“Everything in life worth achieving requires practice. In fact, life itself is nothing more than one long practice session, an endless effort of refining our motions. When the proper mechanics of practice are understood, the task of learning something new becomes a stress-free experience of joy and calmness, a process which settles all areas in your life and promotes proper perspective on all of life’s difficulties.” ~ Thomas M. Sterner, The Practicing Mind
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Becoming a parent changed my perspective on everything! For those of you who are parents, wouldn’t you agree?
I now see life through a completely different lens.
As a teacher for 12 years before becoming a parent, I thought I had a good grasp on children and their development—oh, how much more I had to learn!
Many of my friends found the baby stage tedious, describing it as a “Groundhog Day” experience, day in and day out (lol). But I had quite the opposite reaction—I was fascinated.
I loved watching my daughter learn new things and develop new skills (I still do!). The repetition was intriguing. The excitement and pride she felt when she figured something out was deeply fulfilling for her.
Practising a new skill wasn’t difficult or frustrating for her; it was exciting and motivating—completely natural and instinctive.
The curiosity and playfulness of young children are so beautiful. I often wish we never lost that zest for life as we grow older. ✨
I remember one particular night when my daughter was just a baby. She woke up around 2 a.m., wide awake and happy. There was no way she was going back to sleep, so we decided to get up and play quietly in the playroom. She clearly had something on her mind, though we had no idea what it was at the time. She sat up, babbling happily to herself, moving her hands, picking up toys, and putting them down—focused, intent.
This went on for about an hour until, all of a sudden, she covered her eyes and then moved them away in a peek-a-boo motion. She was so proud of herself, shaking with excitement. She had done it! She had mastered what had been on her mind. After a few rounds of peek-a-boo to celebrate, she was ready to go back to sleep, exhausted but content. đź’ť
It was amazing to witness the intensity with which her little body and brain needed to practise and master that new skill at 2 a.m.! Even at just 6 months old, she was laser-focused and determined.
But here’s the big question: How do we keep this natural drive to practise as we grow older?
The world comes at us fast. Our schedules are packed, and life is busy. So many wonderful opportunities are available, but multitasking is stealing our attention—and with it, our joy. Our energy is scattered, and our minds are constantly juggling.
We need to remember that life is one long practice session—something we never perfect. It’s an endless journey of learning and refining skills. When we truly EMBRACE this process (and let go of perfection – the perfect calendar, the perfect performance, the perfect parent, the perfect kids), we can find REAL and LASTING contentment and peace.
Music and artistic practice help us develop a “practising mindset“—something we can refine and rely on throughout our lives.
A dedicated artistic practice teaches us to slow down, quiet our minds, block out the noise, and be fully PRESENT for a few moments each day.Â
Music study requires patience, self-discipline, and self-awareness. They shape how we see ourselves, what we become, and how we view others – many practices in our lives shape us, so be aware of what you are practising! đź‘Ť
An artistic practice specifically reminds us that the process of learning is worthy, empowering and meaningful. This is where confidence and self-trust is built.Â
All things in life are achieved through some form of practice. It requires repetition, and the process of breaking down big tasks into smaller, manageable steps. Music practice embodies this by focusing on the process of learning, not the pursuit of perfection.
The power of an artistic practice is a gift to ourselves—and to our children.
A practising mindset is crucial for our mental, emotional, and physical well-being now, and in the future.
👉Develop a practising mindset through a daily artistic practice, and watch how it transforms other areas of your life! Encourage your children to do the same with their own artistic practice.
The learning never ends. Shift your perspective, embrace the process (not perfection), and watch your artistry soar.
Keep singing,
Andrea “practising” Donais
P.S. Join the Donais Studios Artistic Practice Space Challenge! The first step in creating a dedicated practice is creating a space for your artistic practice. Share a photo of your artistic practice space, tag us @donaisstudios on Instagram with #myartisticpracticespace (or send an email to admin@donaisstudios.ca), and you could win a Donais Studios prize pack, which includes some brand-new The Artist Within Academy swag. Let’s inspire each other! 🌟