Negativity is all around us. No wonder it seems to creep into our minds so easily.
It’s like a thief in the night. It sneaks up on us very slowly and seeps into our brains.
Because it acts so devious and sly, we often don’t realize how much it’s overtaken our minds until sometimes it’s almost too late.
One day we wake up and realize that we are stuck up to our hips in mud and can’t seem to go anywhere.
How do you know if this is happening to you? See if you’ve been catching yourself doing any of these things that might hold you back from becoming a better musician.
Roadblock #1 – You are the king or queen of excuses.
- “I’m too old.”
- “My memory just isn’t very good.”
- “I’m not smart enough.”
- “I don’t have enough time.”
- “I just wasn’t born with talent.”
Do any of these sound familiar?
Excuses are just crafty little lies that we believe. They are not based on truth for why we “think” we can’t do something.
We hear other people say these things too, so we often just assume there must be something to it.
Let me help you out here. None of the excuses listed above are valid reasons why you can’t get any better at music.
Roadblock #2 – You are not willing to put in a little elbow grease.
The truth about talent is that it is developed, not inherited. This requires a little bit of effort to keep cultivating.
If you find yourself stagnate and not taking steps to improve yourself, then a simple mind shift to keep trying is what’s in order.
Roadblock #3 – You’ve given up on learning.
Your mind is not open to learning from other people or resources. Maybe you don’t see any value in continual learning?
- “I’ve taken this many years of lessons.”
- “I’ve already completed this many classes.”
- “I already have this many degrees.”
What you’ve done in the past towards improving yourself is great and should be highly regarded. However, anyone who is truly unlimited in their field never stops learning.
Roadblock #4 – You are waiting.
You are waiting to take your music skills a step further because:
- You need more money.
- You don’t have enough time.
- You have to take care of kids, a home, a cat, a dog, a hamster, and work on a full time job.
- You are not retired yet.
- You need to buy more stuff you think you need.
- You don’t have the perfect practice space.
- You need to find the top teacher in the world.
- You haven’t taken that one class yet that you know will get the ball rolling again.
- Your friends haven’t done so yet, so why should I?
What are you waiting for? How long do you really feel you need to wait before gaining more skills?
Do you have 5 minutes? You can gain a lot of skills in 5 minutes. Get going doing something today.
Roadblock #5 – You have just decided that you can’t do it.
I hate the word “can’t.” I despise it so much that I’ve told my students it’s a naughty word.
Every time you use that word, you convince yourself even more that you truly don’t have the ability to do anything.
Now, think about it. Is that really true? Would you really tell someone you care about that they can’t do something worthwhile? They just don’t have the ability.
Of course you wouldn’t, so stop doing it to yourself!
I have never met a person who truly does not have the ability to read or play music. I don’t care what disabilities you might have (we all have some), you can DO IT!
Roadblock #6 – You have a fear of failure.
You are afraid to try because you might fail. If that’s the case, then you really don’t know what failure is.
Failure is not trying. It’s doing nothing.
Trying and making a mistake is not failure. It’s a tool that gives you guidance about what you’re next steps will be.
Mistakes help you to grow, expand, and become better than before. As long as you are trying, you will never fail.
Roadblock #7 – You are afraid of what other people will think.
Who cares what they think? This is your life, not theirs. If they are giving you grief, then it will quickly stop once they see you having success.
Here’s what I say: The more someone tries to discourage you, the more you should get up and prove them wrong.
Show them who you really are. They’ll back off and even respect you a little more.
What are You Stuck In?
Do you have some roadblocks that may be getting in your way? How deep in the mud have you found yourself to be in?
The first step to getting unstuck is being aware of what you are doing and thinking. Share your roadblock insights below…
