As we learn to navigate a new life in quarantine, we may feel discouraged, anxious, and in a creative rut. You are not alone. There are moments when we may feel spiritually disconnected from our instrument and it’s okay to feel this way; it’s not okay to stay there. Getting out of a musically stagnant state takes a change in perspective. Be comforted in knowing it’s a normal cycle of life because life is all about polarity. In order for there to be expansion, there must be a contraction, for there to be light, there must be dark, for every up, there is a down, and this makes up the fabric of our lives.
If you are already in a practice flow, continue what you are doing because that’s what the world needs right now-for us to be the best version of ourselves. If you are not being as creative as you know you can be, change is only a decision away. We are creatures of habit and the body does not discriminate from the good ones or the bad. All the body wants is familiarity, which is why change is so hard. Knowing this is half the battle. Establishing a new pattern takes effort, done consistently over time. I’d like to share a technique you can use called, “Joy as your GPS”. Think of the emotions you feel when you’re away from being the creative being you are meant to be, and ask yourself, “Does this action make me feel joy?”. If your answer is no, you can now pull out your GPS to change direction. Doing this is not easy, you will need to be persistent, and the benefits will outweigh the cost. Soon enough, you will rewire your brain to make this action automatic. This process is called, “automaticity”.
There are a couple of things you need to know before you embark on this journey, which is the three phases of change:
Phase 1: Deconstruction of old habits and beliefs. There will be some discomfort because you are uninstalling old habits, and installing new ones.
Phase 2: Is Messy in the Middle as you implement the new norm. The mind and body will put up a fight to return to your old patterns, but you must press on!
Phase 3: Is Gorgeous in the End. You will have habituated a practice pattern, which sets you up for the creative life you always wanted. Now, you may ask, “How long will it take for it to become automatic?”. According to the latest brain research, your action becomes automatic after 66-100 days. The more you do it, the stronger the neurological bonds become and you’re on your way to growth, development and giving your best gifts to the world.
Happy practicing!
