Benedictine Sister Joan Chittister emphasizes the importance of good habits in the spiritual [contemplative] life by drawing parallels with the habits she learned as a writer:

The sole writing teacher I ever had taught only five things…. (1) Write in the same place every day; (2) Write at the same time every day; (3) Write the same amount of time every day; (4) If the words do not flow, sit there and stare at the paper or screen till the designated period of time is over, then return the next day to try again; and (5) Never, ever, let anybody read what you have written until it’s finished….

It is interesting to see that what that process taught me about writing has affected my spiritual life deeply….

To paraphrase what the professor said, “That’s all that can be taught about the truly spiritual life: Find a space where you can concentrate; take the time every day to rest in God there; stay at it however elusive it may seem on some days; let the ideas come and, if you do these things, you will find your way to the Spirit who is awaiting you within you. Then, you will build a relationship with God that is life-changing. Yours.”
              —excerpt from The Monastic Heart by Joan Chittister (Convergent/Random House)