Experiencing Transformation: The Inner Workings of Practice
"Review the practices you've engaged in that you've found to be personally transformative. Whether it's a formal spiritual practice of prayer or meditation, a body-oriented practice such as yoga, tai chi, qi gong, or martial arts, or a less formal practice like running, dance, singing, gardening, sailing, or surfing, how does your practice work for you?
"Get some paper and a writing utensil. Write the name of your practice on one side of the page, maybe 15 to 20 times. (If you don't have a regular practice, choose something that you enjoy doing that gives you peace.) Then, starting at the top, for each line complete a sentence about what this practice brings into your life.
"For example:
Walking the labyrinth makes me feel peaceful.
Walking the labyrinth is sometimes boring.
Walking the labyrinth brings me closer to God.
Walking the labyrinth makes me remember who I am.
Walking the labyrinth brings a sense of sadness.
Walking the labyrinth grounds me.
"Don't edit your sentences. Let whatever comes naturally be written down, even if you don't immediately understand it, even if it isn't politically correct, even if it isn't the 'right' answer. Next, go back through your answers and add the words 'which teaches me' to each sentence.
"For example:
Walking the labyrinth makes me feel peaceful, which teaches me that I have peace within me.
Walking the labyrinth is sometimes boring, which teaches me that I can tolerate boredom and it sometimes leads to creative ideas.
Walking the labyrinth brings me closer to God, which teaches me that I am always close to God.
Walking the labyrinth makes me remember who I am, which teaches me that I actually like the person I am.
Walking the labyrinth brings a sense of sadness, which teaches me that I have deep feelings and need some space to grieve.
Walking the labyrinth grounds me, which teaches me that the ground is always beneath me, wherever I am.
"Do the same for every important practice in your life. You may be surprised by what you discover. You can even try this with practices you'd like to try. What do you think they would bring you? What do you think you might learn? This process can help you clarify both what you're getting from your own transformative practice and what you need or want from practice you're considering.”
