Sunday Reset

What does it mean, to deepen your practice?

It's been coming up a lot lately - the discussion of deepening your practice. I'm wondering what that means to you, as I work through what it means to me. We can also understand and acknowledge each other's interpretations while coming to different conclusions - it's OK for it to mean different things to different people.

Sometimes I find it fun and helpful to look at things through a different lens and apply a process of investigation so that I'm not seeing though the tunnel vision, full of my existing assumptions and preconceived ideas. So while I investigate what this means to me for mindfulness meditation, I'll first look at it as an unrelated topic - it will feel more neutral to me that way and I can remain curious.

I'm going to investigate what it means to deepen my practice if my practice were painting. Imagining that I like to paint pictures and I want to deepen my painting practice, what might I do?

• Read books or take a class for greater knowledge and understanding.

• Study the history of painting and study great painters throughout history (Van Gogh, Monet, Picasso).

• Understand the motivation behind painting - is it for a functional purpose, for the love of art, a form of expression, as a means of relaxing?

• Paint more consistently - perhaps every day.

• Paint for longer periods of time, where I might refine my skills.

• Connect with others about painting - perhaps show them my work, ask to see their paintings, go to museums together, talk about painting techniques.

• Learn the mechanics of painting - the types of materials to paint on, the types of brushes available and their affect on the picture, how to clean brushes, learn about different types and colors or paints, mixing paint, or brush stroke techniques.

• Try new ways to paint- beyond painting on a canvas, can you take the artistry to the front door, t-shirt design, bedroom murals, etc. If you always paint landscapes can you try to paint portraits?

Do these seem like ways to deepen one's painting practice?

Did you enjoy investigating the idea of deepening your practice as it applies to painting?

Now I'll invite you to pause and take a few  mindful breaths in and out. Sense into the body. Notice any emotions. What thoughts are present. After resting for a few moments on the present moment experience, dive into the investigation of what it might mean to deepen your mindfulness mediation practice.  You might want to grab a journal and take a few notes. 

I'm curious to hear from you. If you have an a-ha moment or discover something meaningful in your investigation and want to share, please send me an email.

Warmly,

Julia

Below you'll find a variety of resources to deepen your practice