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Kaspian · 08-04-2008, 04:23 PM

I like FrancesL's suggestion to take the first small step.

I love spending time out in my yard and garden—pulling weeds, pruning things, staking up cucumbers, watering plants in pots, etc—and I feel better if I spend some time outside each day. However, I don't always go outside. Sometimes I lock myself into thinking that I have to do a particular task (like mow the lawn), and that takes the fun out of it. I am discovering all over again that all I really have to do is take the first step or two: change my clothes and step outside. The lawn doesn't have to be mowed today, and if I feel like playing with the cucumbers instead of pulling weeds, I can allow myself to do that.

The same thing can happen with playing horn. I enjoy doing the horn, but if I start thinking that I absolutely must practice something in particular that I'm simply not in the mood for, it can keep me from getting started. When I give myself the freedom to play whatever I want to, I start much more easily. (At the moment, I am inspired and motivated to work on a lot of things, so I am making great progress!) I have to trust that if there's a piece of music I need to improve, that I'll want to work on it before the next rehearsal or performance, even if I don't want to play it today. So far, this method seems to be working.

Another thought: Is there anything in your life that's not quite working or that's draining your energy? I find that if something is off-kilter, it can make the hurdle to getting started feel much taller. You can use your motivation level as a gage for how your life is going in broad, general sense.

08-04-2008, 04:23 PM	#10 (permalink)
Kaspian Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Washington State Posts: 501	I like FrancesL's suggestion to take the first small step. I love spending time out in my yard and garden—pulling weeds, pruning things, staking up cucumbers, watering plants in pots, etc—and I feel better if I spend some time outside each day. However, I don't always go outside. Sometimes I lock myself into thinking that I have to do a particular task (like mow the lawn), and that takes the fun out of it. I am discovering all over again that all I really have to do is take the first step or two: change my clothes and step outside. The lawn doesn't have to be mowed today, and if I feel like playing with the cucumbers instead of pulling weeds, I can allow myself to do that. The same thing can happen with playing horn. I enjoy doing the horn, but if I start thinking that I absolutely must practice something in particular that I'm simply not in the mood for, it can keep me from getting started. When I give myself the freedom to play whatever I want to, I start much more easily. (At the moment, I am inspired and motivated to work on a lot of things, so I am making great progress!) I have to trust that if there's a piece of music I need to improve, that I'll want to work on it before the next rehearsal or performance, even if I don't want to play it today. So far, this method seems to be working. Another thought: Is there anything in your life that's not quite working or that's draining your energy? I find that if something is off-kilter, it can make the hurdle to getting started feel much taller. You can use your motivation level as a gage for how your life is going in broad, general sense.