Practice

Practice

• carry out or practice; as of jobs and professions
• a customary way of behavior
• drill: learn by repetition
• rehearse
• translating an idea into action
• commit: engage in or perform
• knowledge of how something is usually done
  

While attending a stress resiliency seminar recently I was struck by the word practice. The speaker was urging us to practice the skills he was discussing. As one of the long term skills discussed was meditation, I remembered that some people refer to their yoga practice, while others simply do yoga.

I practiced medicine for 14 years. It is interesting that certain professions have practices, like physicians and attorneys, while others, electricians for instance, have a trade. Using the word practice connotes the idea that with continual learning and repetition one's skills improve. Being a practice, it seems to me, also implies that one never actually finishes learning. There is always room for more practice and further improvement.

Which might also mean that practice does not make perfect. The greater the dedication to practice, the more one realizes that there is always room for improvement. The dedicated practitioner of any art or profession, whether a musician, athlete or physician, will claim that they are mere students and still have much to learn. It is in the process of learning and study that one gains a deeper understanding of oneself and a deeper respect for the complexity of one's chosen area of practice. As a society we often value perfection but not the time and hard work that practice requires. In doing so we also miss out on the valuable lessons that can be learned from practice itself.

Practice what you preach. This is probably my greatest hurdle. Here the term practice refers both to the translating of an idea into action as well as the concept of making something one's customary way of behavior. So while I often preach the value of 5 servings of fruits and vegetables daily, making this my usual custom, my daily practice, has been much harder.

By looking at why something is difficult and better understanding how one has come to the difficulty, one can better understand how to improve. Whether by an active decision (I don't like vegetables), or passive neglect (I don't have time to go to the store), we all are responsible for our decisions. Using the concept of practice allows us to rehearse our new behaviors and commit to them with a better understanding of ourselves. When we fully understand our values and how to put them into action we have the opportunity to live in harmony, to truly practice not only what we preach but what we believe. Don't miss out on the value of practice in enriching your life.

In that spirit, my favorite motto is practice not perfection.