I often forget how refreshing it is to dedicate my meditation practice to others — to someone specific like a friend or my nieces and nephews, to a group of people who are suffering somewhere in the world, to animals who are abused, or just to give my practice to the whole world. This frame of mind motivates me because it makes my spiritual practice about something much greater than myself. My growth is better for the world and for my family and friends. With each sitting, day after day, I become just a little bit more grounded, a tad bit more compassionate, and I inch toward being more gracious. Though tedious at times, spiritual practices are an indispensable part of helping to contribute to a better world.