“How do you get to Carnegie Hall?”
“Practice, practice, practice!”
I searched for the source of this, but this is attributed to several people, so it’s hard to tell who said it first. Regardless, it’s true. If you want to be good at something, you have to practice.
In order for me to become a certified Project Management Professional, for example, I needed to have over five years experience leading projects, documenting over 7,500 hours of projects.
When I started learning to play the piano 10 years ago, I had to practice every day, but as a single parent with responsibilities, finding time to do so was difficult. Not to mention that my fingers don’t flex like a young person’s does. This is why I’m not an accomplished pianist, I wasn’t able to fully “practice, practice, practice!”
As I did last year, this year I’m participating in a musical cabaret-style production and I’ve been rehearsing, both at the theater and at home. Tonight starts tech week, which has it’s own unique challenges, leading up to the performance next weekend.
Practicing to be good at something isn’t limited to the arts, or professional endeavors (they say spend 10,000 hours on something and you’re an expert), but practicing can also make you an expert at life — it just depends on what you choose to practice. If you’ve been reading the blog or watching the vlog, you know I tend to write a lot about choice and I’m a big believer in the power of choosing.
After three and a half years writing, I’m bound to repeat themes and maybe even contradict myself as I learn more (and if there’s anyone out there that would like to write a guest blog, I’m happy to entertain the thought).
Back to choice… by choosing to spend my time practicing something, I’m also choosing to either become good at something, or not. When I chose to make time to practice the piano, for example, I was choosing to be good at it. Likewise, when I chose to watch TV with my kids instead of practicing, I was choosing not to be good at it.
Similarly, when I chose not to go out with friends, or socialize in my loss, I chose to be good at isolating. When I chose to attend my bereavement support group, I was choosing to heal. Then there were the times I chose to attend the support group, and get drunk right after it. I was choosing to be good at shortening my life.
Nowadays, I’m choosing to say “Yes” more, because I want to be an expert at experiencing life.
Practicing just about anything can make us good at it. Consider practicing patience, for example. Learning to wait patiently gives us an opportunity for reflection. Practicing active listening enhances our relationships with others. Practicing mindfulness connects us to the present. Practicing self-care puts the focus on your own well-being.
Tony Robbins has said, “Energy flows where attention goes,” and he’s right. I say, “Where you focus is where you thrive.” Those things that get your attention, I feel, should uplift you. They should give you hope and insight into the beauty of the world, even as it feels it’s crashed down upon you.
So, my advice is simple: practice gratitude. Practice living. Practice underwater basket-weaving. Practice something that brings you joy. Practice, practice, practice! Practice leaving the house and socializing. Practice taking care of yourself. Practice releasing negative emotions.
It’s not about perfection (remember, life is messy). It’s about progress and purpose. Some days you’ll practice the piano, others you’ll spend time watching mindless TV with your kids.
How do you get to living the life you want?
Practice, practice, practice!
