Sitting, the kaizen way, a writing practice...

The Kaizen way of doing things is to initiate small changes on one's way to success - whatever the heck that is. Big changes scare the amygdila and cause sabotages to occur. I have made a very small change for my sitting practice. My goal is to sit daily and to join both meditation and contemplation together in my practice. I do all right for awhile then I fall off the cushion (!). A fellow practitioner and artist, my pal Annie, gave me both the kaizen book and a tiny improvement she made to her practice in order to keep it steady. She drinks her tea while she sits. She's going to take time to drink her tea in the morning anyway and as she also wants to sit - this aids her to make it habitual. Ah ha! My dear guy brings me coffee every morning and I stay in bed reading and sipping. Over the last month what I've done is read for half my cup of coffee then take it to the cushion (my shrine is in our bedroom).  I light my candles, fill my water bowls, do some morning chants and I'm on my way. My dear dog comes to join me most mornings. He lies beside my cushion with his elegant doggy legs nicely crossed. He stands when I dedicate the merit. He wants to be born in his next life with some practice under his collar.

This tiny adjustment has made it easy for me to do my practice - after all - I am going to drink my coffee in the morning so why not? Now, I'm looking for a small adjustment so that my writing practice has the same built in do-ability. When we are strengthening our practices, our disciplines, we don't have to make a big to-do about it. It was great to train for a marathon. For seven months I walked my feet to bloody nubs. But it didn't stay - sure I walk every day but I don't exert myself as I like. Same as when I did the NaNoWriMo - it was great to be able to complete it - to do the 50 thou. but the practice doesn't remain as solid as I would like. I'd rather make small adjustments that get me sitting in front of my keyboard daily with my manuscript up and ready.

It is like brushing one's teeth or putting our seat belt on - we don't have to decide every day to do this - we just decide once and make it a habit.  First I will consider what already has worked in my writing practice - I do have three books written right through and another nearly so - which means I have been writing. What has gotten me here so far?

• writing on Tuesdays with Gwen - a steady weekly practice that has been all but inviolate
• writing retreats both home-based and away
• writing my goals on my writing blog and reporting on them!
• having a dedicated room that I keep fairly (!) organized and cheerful
• having friends and books that encourage my process to hand

There have been times of greater effort - I'm thinking of when I was working on The Rock Walker - at one point I was madly doing revision - I had beat sheets - that definitely assisted me - and that I took everywhere - even to medical appointments - or when I was waiting for others at certain places.

Lately, one thing I've been doing is to try and not schedule my clients until 11 o'clock. If I get up by 6:30, and I usually do, I can meditate, walk the dog and write for an hour or so, on those days that I see clients. That seems good and I will try and make sure of that. It means leaving here at 10:10 or so. Another thing that I could do is have a writing practice book - I have a meditation practice book and it helps me to stay on course as I check off my practice every morning. Seems childish I know but whatever works.

What about you all? Any small adjustments that you've made to make sure you write daily?

photos were taken on my retreat to Elizabeth Bishop House in Great Village, NS.