We Are Who We Practice to Be

“We are who we practice to be.” — Dr. Joe Dispenza

As humans, we are habitual beings. What we do most is what we inevitably become. And all the greats have said as much:

Buddha: “What we think, we become”

Muhammed Ali: “What you are thinking about, you are becoming”

Mahatma Gandhi: “Your beliefs become your thoughts. Your thoughts become your words. Your words become your actions. Your actions become your habits. Your habits become your values. Your values become your destiny”

Lao Tzu: “Watch your thoughts, they become your words; watch your words, they become your actions; watch your actions, they become your habits; watch your habits, they become your character; watch your character, it becomes your destiny.”

The crazy thing is, who we are and what we do starts in the mind as a thought. Those thoughts then repeat to create emotions and those emotions then create specific behavioural patterns that create similar thoughts and on and on it goes.

It’s a beautiful feedback loop.

So, how to change that loop?

Well, first things first, awareness is key. By not knowing who we’re practicing to be we can never change into who we’re wanting to become.

This is where observation comes into play. By observing our thoughts, we can begin to notice what unconscious patterns are running in the subconscious mind.

This is where all of our memories, beliefs, stories, patterns, and traumas are stored but they are often hard to access during day-to-day life. However, they tend to bubble to the surface through our emotions and sensations.

So, emotions and sensations are the doorway to the subconscious mind.

How?

Emotions and sensations are the doorway to the subconscious mind because they make thoughts real. They give thoughts a feeling, so to speak. So through interactions, conversations, and events, we can track what emotions and sensations are present in the body to help us better understand why certain things cause us to react and others don’t.

This then shines a light on areas that were otherwise unknown. And from there, transformation can happen.

It’s incredibly empowering when we know that we’re the ones in control and that we’re no longer are at the mercy of anyone or any place.

We cultivate that person and place within. It’s our own inner sanctuary that’s untouchable.

“When you’re under pressure, you don’t rise to the occasion, you sink to the level of your training” — The Navy SEALs

I love this. It further shows that we can literally train ourselves to become the person we want to become. But not only that, it shows that when shit hits the fan, we’re still able to be the person we want to be, regardless of place or circumstance.

There are four main areas of our lives that we can train for:

• Physically
• Emotionally
• Mentally
• Spiritually

“As long as you are thinking equal to your environment, your personal reality is creating your personality.” — Dr. Joe Dispenza

Physically

“Every action you take is a vote for the type of person you wish to become. No single instance will transform your beliefs, but as the votes build up, so does the evidence of your new identity” — James Clear

Of all the four areas of our lives that we can train, physically has definitely been the most explored. Maybe because it’s the most tangible, the most structured, the quickest to show results, and the least vulnerable. Who knows.

Because emotions, sensations, and spiritual experiences happen in the body, having a healthy body makes us feel good so the reasons for staying healthy don’t really matter. What matters is the results.

Exercise is a fabulously easy tool to gain a healthy body.

Here are some of the most powerful physical exercises I love and use weekly:

• Yoga
• Dance
• Running
• Swimming
• Cycling
• Boxing
• Cold showers
• Walking in nature

Mentally

"What the mind can conceive, and believe, it can achieve” — Napoleon Hill

Practicing who we want to become happens in the mind. It is the birthplace of all creation. It is also where doubt, fear, and limitations live and hold us back. In short, it’s where people either succeed or fail.

Supportive practices for mental strength:

• Meditation
• Visualisation techniques
• Breathwork
• Positive affirmations

Emotionally

“The most powerful words in the universe are the words you say to yourself” — Marie Farloe

Emotional stability is a superpower worth cultivating.

What makes you feel good? What makes you feel free, open, connected, and able to express yourself from your heart?

What holds you back?

Here are some of the best practices I know for cultivating emotional resilience:

• Breathwork — hands down my number one tool for raising energy and love in all areas of my life
• Chanting/sounding/singing
• Art
• Dance
• Massage
• Lovemaking
• Shaking — emotions can often get stuck in the body. Shaking helps to well… shake them off. All animals shake after stress and trauma. Humans have just forgotten about it.

Spiritually

This is probably the least explored area out of the bunch but some would argue that it’s the most important of all. After all, a free spirit soars and we all want that.

My favourite spiritual practices/energy work:

• Qi Gong
• Tai Chi
• Breathwork — discover my favoruite breathwork technique here
• Yoga
• Meditation
• Plant medicines/Psychedelics

Closing thoughts

I’d like to leave you a pertinent quote from Marianne Williamson. She provides a stark reminder to shine our light as brightly as we can, not only for ourselves but also for those who can’t.

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, ‘Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?’ Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”