I do not practice when I don't want to. And I want to know the secret to practicing when I don't want to.
Much of my life was doing what I did not want to do. That takes up a large portion of my childhood, teenage years, 20s and half of my 30s. I consider it a rebellion to not do things I don't want to do. I like feeling in control. But I guess when I think about it, not having a consistent practice feels very out of control. Again, a lot to unpack here.
I'm glad I will have some help at The Creator Retreat! I find it a lot easier in community to be consistent with practice.
my secret to practicing when I don’t want to is telling myself I only have to do 5minutes. I can do anything for 5 minutes. Almost always, the 5minutes turns into more and ALWAYS I’m glad I did it.
I’ve always wanted to be more consistent with meditating. I recently rediscovered Teal Swan and have been meditating 🧘 to her voice. I find it incredibly grounding and cathartic. Meditation will become part of my daily routine this coming year.
Thanks for this share…especially love the dogs laying with you. Sounds like my house!
I'd love to be more consistent with meditating too. But then again, I'd like to be consistent with basically any practice at this point lol.
I loved the dogs in the bed too! My house is the same but with two cats instead of dogs. Glad they take up less space than a large dog, but they still manage to take up a lot of leg space lol.
I live with 3 dogs and a bonus dog (who is here during regular business hours while his hooman is at work). There’s never enough leg room on beds and couches and I love it that way.
I hear you, Sam. Developing consistency in our practice takes time. The more compassionate and understanding you are with yourself, the faster you will develop the habit.
That's right, you have two cats. I've lived with two cats before; they're special and have taught me much.
It's lovely that you found someone whose voice is grounding and cathartic. May this help you develop and practice the habit in 2025. 💛 That's funny, you too?
This really hit home for me. I used to be the type who'd skip my morning routine at the slightest inconvenience – feeling tired was a perfectly good excuse in my book! But over time, I've realized that showing up for my practice, even when I really don't want to, is where the real magic happens. It's like building a muscle; the more I do it, the easier it gets to choose discipline over comfort. And those little victories add up to a more grounded and peaceful me.
I like how your practice has evolved from "maybe" to "choose discipline over comfort." I relate to this as I sit here not wanting to exercise. As you say, those little victories add up. Thanks for sharing your experience here..
Thank you! And I love what Teri said - discipline creates long term comfort. I love the layered nuance that this sentiment adds. We can choose discipline over short term comfort, so that we can achieve long term comfort.
Right? People think discipline means grind. But when it meets our intention, it feels wholesome, nurturing and satisfying—anything but discipline-like.
true discipline - in my experience - is always a pleasure. Those things I do because I really really want to do them. I look forward to them…and if I skip them, I really miss them. That’s discipline.
the thing is the discipline creates the long-term comfort!
in perimenopause I’ve learned that my body is “noisy” if I don’t practice. But when I choose 5-minutes of yoga, my body isn’t noisy at all. discipline makes comfort.
Did you write this specifically for me? LOL
I do not practice when I don't want to. And I want to know the secret to practicing when I don't want to.
Much of my life was doing what I did not want to do. That takes up a large portion of my childhood, teenage years, 20s and half of my 30s. I consider it a rebellion to not do things I don't want to do. I like feeling in control. But I guess when I think about it, not having a consistent practice feels very out of control. Again, a lot to unpack here.
I'm glad I will have some help at The Creator Retreat! I find it a lot easier in community to be consistent with practice.
my secret to practicing when I don’t want to is telling myself I only have to do 5minutes. I can do anything for 5 minutes. Almost always, the 5minutes turns into more and ALWAYS I’m glad I did it.
You have the wisdom of 20+ years of showing up daily...and teaching.
That's a good insight that I'd never thought about. Makes sense.
The Creator Retreat community will help you develop habits and practices for things that are good for you but that you don't want to do.
I’ve always wanted to be more consistent with meditating. I recently rediscovered Teal Swan and have been meditating 🧘 to her voice. I find it incredibly grounding and cathartic. Meditation will become part of my daily routine this coming year.
Thanks for this share…especially love the dogs laying with you. Sounds like my house!
I'd love to be more consistent with meditating too. But then again, I'd like to be consistent with basically any practice at this point lol.
I loved the dogs in the bed too! My house is the same but with two cats instead of dogs. Glad they take up less space than a large dog, but they still manage to take up a lot of leg space lol.
I live with 3 dogs and a bonus dog (who is here during regular business hours while his hooman is at work). There’s never enough leg room on beds and couches and I love it that way.
I can picture it all. :)
Our two cats are always at our feet too. I love it, even if my leg can't move 😂
Too funny. I love cats.
I hear you, Sam. Developing consistency in our practice takes time. The more compassionate and understanding you are with yourself, the faster you will develop the habit.
That's right, you have two cats. I've lived with two cats before; they're special and have taught me much.
I went through a Teal Swan phase. Amazing times.
I love your affirmation that Meditation will become a part of your daily routine. I see it happening for you NOW.
It's lovely that you found someone whose voice is grounding and cathartic. May this help you develop and practice the habit in 2025. 💛 That's funny, you too?
This really hit home for me. I used to be the type who'd skip my morning routine at the slightest inconvenience – feeling tired was a perfectly good excuse in my book! But over time, I've realized that showing up for my practice, even when I really don't want to, is where the real magic happens. It's like building a muscle; the more I do it, the easier it gets to choose discipline over comfort. And those little victories add up to a more grounded and peaceful me.
I like how your practice has evolved from "maybe" to "choose discipline over comfort." I relate to this as I sit here not wanting to exercise. As you say, those little victories add up. Thanks for sharing your experience here..
Thank you! And I love what Teri said - discipline creates long term comfort. I love the layered nuance that this sentiment adds. We can choose discipline over short term comfort, so that we can achieve long term comfort.
Mmm, this is beautiful. I often think of it as sacrificing a lesser pleasure for greater meaning, satisfaction and fulfillment.
and then, eventually, the discipline BECOMES the comfort.
Right? People think discipline means grind. But when it meets our intention, it feels wholesome, nurturing and satisfying—anything but discipline-like.
true discipline - in my experience - is always a pleasure. Those things I do because I really really want to do them. I look forward to them…and if I skip them, I really miss them. That’s discipline.
Choosing discipline, I like that. May try that...haha.
the thing is the discipline creates the long-term comfort!
in perimenopause I’ve learned that my body is “noisy” if I don’t practice. But when I choose 5-minutes of yoga, my body isn’t noisy at all. discipline makes comfort.
I relate wholeheartedly.
I love how you expressed that. My body and mind get equally noisy if i don’t practice. 🩵
yup. I hear you…and I hear my noisy body when I don’t practice.
Same here to both of you.