In a world where everything happens in real-time, where every millisecond is accounted for and we live in a state of perpetual distraction, talking about dedication to skill acquisition over a period of months or even years sounds almost subversive. But the truth is, you won’t master anything without discipline, persistence and time. You might make rapid gains at first, but it takes years to develop real skill. This is true regardless of what you are doing.
What really matters is not how intensely you practice, but how consistently. One day of focused practice may yield results, but it’s the consistent daily practice that will ingrain habits and truly change your skill level. When you establish a routine of practice, your body starts to adapt. It takes time, but it will start to make the movements more efficient. You will start making quicker decisions. You will develop faith in yourself. You can’t force that overnight. You have to give your body the time and practice.
Practice, however, is not just a matter of time, but also quality. Practicing the wrong way is just as valuable as practicing the right way. If you’re not focused on your form and engaged with what you’re doing, then you are not actually practicing anything, and may be ingraining bad habits instead. Real practice is mindful and aware. You are focused on your form and the results of what you’re doing. It is an active process, not a passive one. You will know when you are doing something right, and you will know when you’re doing it wrong. With time, you’ll learn to trust that.
One more thing. Practice requires discipline. It requires dedication. It requires persistence. You won’t see results overnight, and it will be frustrating at times. Sometimes you’ll feel like you’re not getting anywhere at all. But if you stick with it, you’ll find yourself improving. Don’t be discouraged by your lack of initial progress. It’s a process. There will be times when you feel like quitting. When you feel like it’s not worth it. But it is worth it. You are worth it.
Keep moving forward.
