Practice means waiting without anxiety. Patience with all things but first with yourself.
Francis de Sales, French Bishop
Practice, purposeful repetition, makes what we do feel effortless. One of the root words for practice means “training oneself.”
Playing the piano well means daily practice. Feeling less stressed means practicing relaxation, maybe sitting meditation. Eliminating agitation from the world’s horrors may mean that instead of watching the evening news, take a nature walk. Look at the sunset.
Training the habit of less stress takes practice, discipline, and determination. It takes mindful patience without self-judgment to be effective. Practice makes progress, not perfection.
I love what actor Lawrence Olivier said when asked what advice he would give young artists eager for success: develop your craft, be persistent, and lastly, he put talent.
For health wealth, less stress, and brain power, practice any of these at least a hundred times a day: take a breath before you speak; choose to stop/stand still and listen to your heart, thoughts, and feelings for at least thirty seconds; when disturbed, choose to respond (consciously aware) not react (unconsciously automatic); lastly, engage in Metta—the ancient practice of benevolence through self-compassion and loving-kindness. Your talent for less stress and patience just got a lot stronger. Celebrate it and you!
I’ve learned over the years that freedom is just the other side of discipline.
Jake Gyllenhaal, actor
In a high IQ job pool, soft skills like discipline, drive and empathy mark those who emerge as outstanding.
Daniel Goleman, psychologist