Having a Practice

We’ve been talking for the past two posts about starting a New Project before we’ve finished the Project We’re Working On Now.

Why do we do this? What’s the principle behind it?

We do it because to stop (or pause) after Project #1 means we are one-hit wonders. We are dabbling. We are amateurs.

To continue, on the other hand, means we are pursuing our calling as a practice.

It means we are pros. It means we are on the right side of the Muse’s ledger. It means we are aligned with the Cosmic Juju.

We can have a meditation practice

What is a practice?

You and I can have a yoga practice. We can have a meditation practice. We can have a martial arts practice.

We can also have a writing practice … or a painting practice, or a musical composition practice.

Here are just a few of the characteristics of a practice.

A practice is enacted as a ritual.A practice is engaged in every day.A practice is lifelong.A practice is pursued for its own sake, not for any societal or financial gain.A practice is a spiritual pursuit embodied in a physical or psychic endeavor.A practice often involves a teacher or mentor.

Do we—you and I—call ourselves artists? Then we are in this for life. Book #1 (or Album #1 or Podcast #1) is only one link in a chain we will build from now until they take us out feet-first. There will be a Book #9 and a Book #99. 

We will not stop after Album #11 or Podcast #798. 

This is what we do.

This is our practice.

P.S. The final (bonus) week of The Daily Pressfield—after the first 365 days—is about having a practice. It comes last because it’s the deepest, bottom-line truth of the artist’s life. Signed copies are still available.

P.P.S. More to come on “having a practice” in the following weeks.

The post Having a Practice first appeared on Steven Pressfield.