Lose 30 pounds vs. Eat two servings of vegetables each day
Work out every day vs. Yoga three times a week
Write a novel vs. Write for 10 minutes every day
Stop rushing vs. Brush my teeth for three minutes twice a day
Stop wasting time vs. Create a daily to-do list
Wake up at 5 a.m. vs. Set the alarm 30 minutes earlier each day
What’s the difference between each of these statements? They’re similar, aren’t they?
It’s true that each statement shares a similar theme with its counterpart: Writing a novel and writing for 10 minutes every day both have to do with writing; Stop wasting time and create a daily to-do list are both related to time-savings; and so on.
But despite their similarities, there is a fundamental difference in these statements, which is that some of them are goals and some of them are practices.
But you should not use kamagra 100mg oral jelly without talking to the doctor. viagra pill for woman Online Support:- It is known for the treatment of moderate impotence or cialis 80mg repeated failure penis (ED) in men. In fact, many women feel better both premenstrually and during their periods on line cialis if they follow a nearly religious beauty regime consisting of exercise, skin care and nutrition. Major Causes of Erectile Dysfunction All men are able to grab these benefits even during their mid age? cheap viagra Yes that is true. What’s the difference between a goal and a practice? I only recently learned myself, although I think each of us already knows the difference deep down. According to Natalie Goldberg, author of Writing Down the Bones, setting a practice is very different form setting a goal.
Goals are ideals, achievement driven without very much wiggle room. Many of us set lofty goals, only to miss a workout here, or eat an unhealthy meal there. We throw our hands up in self-loathing and quit before we have a chance to achieve anything.
Practice, on the other hand, is not about achievement so much as it is about building confidence. It’s not about reaching a destination, but showing up again and again.
Practices are not vague, but specific. Look at the list at the beginning of this post. Instead of saying, “I’m going to eat healthy,” 
you tell yourself, “I’m going to eat vegetables with every meal.” Instead of declaring that you will start waking up earlier, you decide to wake up 30 minutes earlier tomorrow, and once that feels good, 30 minutes earlier after that.
Natalie, who practiced Zen for many years, has dedicated her life to what she calls “writing practice”—both teaching it and doing it. Her dedication has spilled over into other aspects of her life, allowing her to incorporate many kinds of practice into her days. In her book, “The True Secret of Writing,” Natalie describes practice as “…something you choose to do on a regular basis with no vision of an outcome; the aim is not improvement, not getting somewhere. You do it because you do it.”
There is no room for applause or criticism with practice; it’s enough to be consistent and to continue to do what you say you will do.
I do believe that goals are good to have. They create direction. But they can sometimes be too overreaching, setting the finish line far ahead in the distant future, skipping over all the hurdles in between.
Practice, on the other hand, can be used to tackle those hurdles one at a time. You can set goals and then develop a practice to help you work towards them, like running, biking, or swimming five times a week in preparation for an Ironman, or choosing to ride a bike or walk to work to start building happiness into your days.
Ultimately, though, practice is not about holding onto something; it’s about letting go. It’s about making a commitment, showing up again and again, and building awareness of yourself and the world around you. And Natalie would tell you that the times you don’t show up are important too; it’s all part of the practice.
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