There's no wrong way to practice

However you practice, you're doing it right

Whew. It’s Tuesday, friends, and I am definitely feeling that Tuesday energy.

I had a morning full of calls, fired off a few emails, and suddenly it’s mid-afternoon and I have no idea what to write for today’s letter.

“Just show up,” I thought, and did. And here we are.

I’m thinking about that famous Vince Lombardi quote, the one about how perfect practice makes perfect.

Which implies that there is somehow a wrong, imperfect way to practice. Perhaps that’s true if you’re trying to nail a difficult football play with lots of complicated steps and coordination, but for creative work? Nah.

Your practice is your practice. You get to decide what’s right for you, and however you practice, you’re doing it right. It bears repeating:

You. Are. Doing. It. Right.

If you wake up at 5am to write your morning pages, you’re doing it right.

If you scrounge a few minutes between meetings when you can, you’re doing it right.

If you stay up late because that’s when you feel most inspired, you’re doing it right.

If you chose not to practice today because your partner has covid and a winter storm knocked out your power, you’re doing it right.

There is no wrong way to practice. There’s only your way.

Keep showing up, and keep going. You’re doing great.

---