Practice Beats Procrastination: a Writer’s Suggestion

In the world of yoga, there is a famous saying by Sri K. Pattabhi Jois, “Practice and all is coming.” For those new to the world of yoga legends, Sri K. Pattabhi Jois is a voice that comes up a lot in the Ashtanga practice. And Ashtanga Yoga is all about practice, practice, and practice.

I feel centered, repeating, Practice and all is coming. People infer different meanings from this quote. As a writer and yogi, I believe his quote teaches us to intentionally carve out time for ourselves and practice what we need to practice. Don’t go looking for the quick fix for it all. Practice, known as Abhyasa in Sanskrit, is the key to growth, improvement, and sustainability.

Writing is an internal process. Writing, much like yoga, means different things to different people. The goals, the purpose, the process…it differs from one person to another. Someone might want to write for the joy of writing; others might want to see their work published in print. Practice not because you want to master the art of writing; practice so you can go slow and steady effort in the direction you want to go and learn along the way. No matter why you write, practice writing. For example, creating a tweet is just as much writing as finishing up a 200-page novel or a memoir or a collection of poems. You don’t become any less of a writer because you managed to write just five sentences on some days. You are a “real writer” if you hold space for your creativity without any ego or attachments.

Do you believe that it’s the struggles that define us, not just the end result? With every book that I write, I feel I grow as a human being as well as a writer. Sure, it’s not all smooth sailing. You might want to pull your hair out on some days. You may swear to never return to another creative pursuit in your life. Practice. Practice. Practice. The outcome will surprise you. The more we practice something the better we get at it. All of a sudden, you find yourself seeking more: you discover a book you like, a prompt that gets you thinking, a story that you want to give voice to or a creative writing instructor who says just the right thing. You find the sweet spot to nurture your creativity and something inside you shifts. It might be small, but it keeps you hungry for more. You want to write. You want to practice. You want to keep going. “Practice and all is coming.” But if you never attempted to write and romanticized the idea of writing … Can you see how that wouldn’t be beneficial?

Writing is not your bed that you show up to at the end of the day after you have done everything else. You can’t talk about writing and not make room for it. You can’t choose lunch dates and coffee hang outs (even if virtually in the pandemic times) over your writing time. You can’t complain about missing deadlines if writing is an afterthought for you. You can’t fight writer’s block if you don’t have a time slot in your day or week to show up to your writing with devotion. If you want to write, you must want to write. Practice writing in all its entirety. Sit with the discomfort, sit with blank pages, sit with the aches, sit with canceled plans, sit with perseverance, sit with the reflections, sit with the learning, and sit with your practice. I promise it will yield more results than procrastination. Not much else is required of you but the discipline. You start to discover that some days you need a few hours and other days when you’re able to only fit in 10 minutes. But the magic still happens if you show up with dedication and discipline.

“Practice and all is coming.” Practice will help you discover your passion and pursuits. It will bring you a sense of peace because chaos can be a messy road to creativity. In 2022, if you are trying to break up with procrastination, I invite you to schedule non-negotiable writing time in your life. Practice writing with all abandon. Practice writing as if your life depends on it.

This is how you do it: you sit down at the keyboard, and you put one word after another until it’s done. It’s that easy, and that hard.” ~ Neil Gaiman

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BIO: Sweta Srivastava Vikram is an international speaker, best-selling author of 13 books, and Ayurveda and mindset coach who is committed to helping people thrive on their own terms. Her latest book, “A Piece of Peace,” (Modern History press) was released in September 2021. As a trusted source on health and wellness, most recently appearing on NBC and Radio Lifeforce and in a documentary with Dr. Deepak Chopra, Sweta has dedicated her career to writing about and teaching a more holistic approach to creativity, productivity, health, and nutrition. Her work has appeared in The New York Times and other publications across nine countries on three continents. Sweta is a trained yogi and certified Ayurveda health coach, is on the board of Fly Female Founders, and holds a Master’s in Strategic Communications from Columbia University. Voted as “One of the Most Influential Asians of Our Times” and winner of the “Voices of the Year” award (past recipients have been Chelsea Clinton), she lives in New York City with her husband and works with clients across the globe. She also teaches yoga, meditation, and mindfulness to survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence as well incarcerated men and women. Find her on: Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Facebook.

Sweta Vikram 

Ayurveda + Mindset Coach | Global Speaker | Best-selling Author

Winner of Voices of the Year Award

www.swetavikram.com | sweta@swetavikram.com

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Order my latest book: A Piece of Peace

A Piece of Peace: Everyday Mindfulness You Can Use

A Piece of Peace is an autobiographical account of one woman’s unique struggle with a near-fatal disease. In 2018, Sweta had already earned acclaim from having written a dozen successful books and for her work toward amplifying women’s voices.

Suddenly overtaken with a massive health crisis, she entered a fight for her life that lasted more than six months. Her journey back to wellness through mindfulness and Ayurvedic healing show us both the true resilience of the human spirit as well as laying out a practical day-by-day plan that anyone can build on to restore health and recover from chronic health losses. Sweta shares her vulnerabilities, makes recommendations, interviews experts, and reminds us all that how we respond to a situation determines our path in life. Additionally, you’ll learn about:

• The power of mindful living.
• The impact of finding and owning your voice on your well-being.
• A reminder about the role of wellness in the lives of writers & creative professionals.
• Essays and stories on coping with the pandemic, mindfulness, Ayurveda, meditation, resilience, productivity, and more.
• Tips, tricks, wisdom, all packed neatly with compassion to help you navigate life no matter what’s thrown at you.

“I’m confident that A Piece of Peace will prove to be of immense benefit to anyone interested in achieving a state of healthy physical, intellectual, and spiritual well-being.” Nitin P. Ron, MD, Speaker, Expedition Leader, and Assistant Professor of Clinical Pediatrics

“The recipe for being your most creative and productive self is in this book. Through Sweta’s journey of survival she shares the power of mindful living, the value of Ayurvedic healing and how to be the best version of yourself. A Piece of Peace is a must-have for your bookshelf.” Paula Rizzo, author, Listful Living: A List-Making Journey to a Less Stressed You

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Category: How To and Tips