Daily Practice - Debunked
In so many spiritual circles and communities, Daily Practice is touted as G.O.D. (Good Orderly Direction).
But truthfully most of us have a hard enough time eating consistent meals and doing the dishes, let alone making space and reserving energy for daily meditation, yoga, or whatever else we've been told will help us reach elevation status.
So I've thought about this a lot, because the only time I had a "daily practice" was when I was in the midst of my Yoga Teacher Training, where my life revolved around practice because I needed it to learn. And also I'm an over-achiever so I wanted it to be ~perfect~. But that wasn't sustainable.
The thing is, as humans, we are different every day. Our basic essentials don't shift too much (water, sleep, poop and eat) - but we're told that daily practice is essential. Truthfully I won't deny it's importance, but what daily practice actually looks like doesn't have to be an instagramable moment of perfection that you set aside hours for everyday.
I was thinking about what it is that we value about a daily practice, and the root of it is progress. When we do something everyday we move forward. Time is an essential element. But isn't time happening all around us always? Yes, but we do not progress through time without presence. And isn't there value in daily practice? Yes, when your daily practice adds to your nourishment and wellbeing instead of taking from it.
Let's debunk what daily practice can look like, how we can access it and the essential elements to it.
What is Daily Practice?
All in all, daily practice is very literal. It is a thing we practice daily. Recognizing that our practice isn't for perfection but for progress is a great place to start, because it makes you ask "what is it I want to progress in?"
Maybe it's something goal oriented, like I want to get faster at a rubix cube. Maybe you want to wash your face and do your skin care routine every day. Maybe you just simply want to have more energy.
Our goals should be linked to our values, so if one of your values is having patience then maybe setting yourself up to meditate for an hour everyday right off the bat isn't actually in alignment with that value. Perhaps acknowledging the different kinds of meditation that are available and committing to a daily practice of exploring meditation so you can build up to an hour might be more fruitful as it aligns with your deeper self.
Daily Practice also doesn't need to be goal or results oriented. Ultimately, it is also a practice of kindness. Can we not beat ourselves up if things don't go perfectly? Can we allow there to be grace, and recognize that grace doesn't equate to a scape goat?
I see this as ritual, and ritual is so very different from routine. A routine asks us to check off boxes on our preconceived list. But ritual asks us to check in with ourselves and our needs. So at it's core, a daily practice is a check in with our needs, values, and the truth of where we are at in that moment.
Daily Practice is actually about giving ourselves space to explore, check in, nourish ourselves and have a safe space to experiment - which also means having a safe space to get it wrong. Experimenting with what you need is how we learn what we need.
What are the elements of Daily Practice?
Your Values; this is the most important part, because if we aren't practicing in alignment with our values then we are pushing ourselves away from them. If one of your values is self-compassion but you're trying to make a daily practice out of an expectation that doesn't align with your needs, then you're not being compassionate to who you are and your ability to create something that works for you, instead of you working for it.
Your Needs; this is directly correlated to your values. Your values will help you determine how to show up for your needs. If you hate waking up early, then maybe setting a goal of a morning routine to be more productive is actually counter productive to you. Instead, an evening routine may be more in alignment with what you need so you can be prepared for the morning and take the pressure off.
Make a list of your needs, and start with the basics. How much sleep, water, and food do you need? How much work, time to get ready, rest, pleasure, and play? What supports, whether they are financial, emotional, or spiritual. Physical, Mental, Spiritual and Material needs can all have separate categories. If you're finding these lists getting too long, break them down into the absolute essentials. This can be a practice of teasing needs and wants apart from each other.Your Time; your time vs time are different in my mind. Time is always happening around us, but your time is when you are able to be present. Being present in time is how our progress moves forward, and this is why daily practice is something of devotion rather than commitment. Our devotion is a deeply rooted promise to ourselves. Our commitment is something that will ebb and flow based on what's happening in our lives.
Look at how much time you have in a day, and what that time is broken down into - work, chores, pleasure and play, self-maintenance. See if there is space for (or already space for) devotion.Your Energy; this comes down to nourishment. Energy is a fundamental need our bodies have, and everything we do in the course of a day interacts with our energy by either giving it to us or taking it from us. To be able to show up in Your Time, you need energy for presence. This might mean some days you only have energy for 5 minutes of daily practice. It might mean you have whole days to be in devotion to that.
Make another list of things you do that give you energy, and take your energy. Number them 1-10 from gives or takes the most, to gives and takes the least. Are they balanced? Our energy levels also dictate the quality of time you give. And you deserve the best.
What can Daily Practice look like?
making sure you eat breakfast
bringing filtered water with you when you leave the house
setting a bedtime for yourself
a writing practice
a card pull
doing the dishes
ending your work at a set time
sticking to a digital consumption boundary
yoga
meditation
walking
drawing
reading
lighting an incense or candle
having a luxurious shower
spending time alone
spending time with people that nourish you
being in nature
dancing
singing
brushing your teeth
making the bed
Ultimately, our spiritual practices and devotions aren't always complicated and deeply consuming things. Our Daily Practice doesn't even have to be a consistent thing, but perhaps a consistent showing up for yourself in alignment with your values. It doesn't have to be daunting or consuming.
Often, our Daily Practice is a simple thing that enriches our lives, and more specifically the connection we have with ourselves in our life.
Benefits of Daily Practice
more time
more energy
more trust
a deeper relationship with ourselves
less stress
better boundaries
alignment with our values
creating opportunity for growth and change
an increase in patience
deeper nourishment
fine-tuning of your needs
the ability to say yes/no as needed
self compassion
self confidence
build a relationship with your spiritual self
skill building
less stress
more dopamine
synchronicity
alignment with your circadian rhythm
There are endless benefits to clarifying what a daily practice is, and then devoting yourself to it. It's not a routine, but a ritual that will help you understand and attune better to the flowing and changing needs we all have!
What are your favourite Daily Practices (even if you don't do them everyday hehe)?
xo,
Fo