Practice the boring basics. The flashy stuff is just basics done really fast.

CREATIVITY

WHAT THIS MEANS

The impressive version of almost any skill is the simple version performed quickly, accurately and without conscious thought. Nothing new is added at the top. The basics are simply so well established that they run on their own and leave your attention free for timing and decisions. Skipping them to reach the exciting part produces a copy that falls apart under pressure, because there is nothing underneath it.

Spend the first ten minutes of each practice this week on something unglamorous you can already do. Aim for clean rather than fast, and see how the hard parts feel by the end of the fortnight.

A QUESTION TO SIT WITH

Which fundamental are you skipping to get to the fun part?

MORE IN LEARNING & CURIOSITY

Free, with nothing to buy inside it.