I was thinking today about THE most dangerous enemy of musical progress?the victim mentality. What do I mean by this?
Often we can let our personal circumstances dictate our progress. For example, someone may let their guitar practice slide because they were really busy at work. This person may start making excuses such as "I didn't have time". This is victim mentality. It is believing that your musical progress is only possible when external circumstances allow it.
What they are really saying to themselves is that their musical dreams and goals are not as important as paying a few lousy bills.They are letting their boss's goals get in the way of their own.
Now?I can't point fingers at anyone. I've been guilty of having a victim mentality plenty of times! Especially when it comes to things like going to the gym :) But I don't have a victim mentality when it comes to guitar practice. There is virtually nothing that I will allow to get in the way of my musical progress.
So?how can you stop yourself from becoming a victim and a loser?
1.Stop making excuses.
I can guarantee that for every excuse you can make there is someone out there who has overcome that obstacle. Don't allow yourself to make excuses. They are the death of your musical dreams.
2. Watch your language.
For example, rather than saying "I couldn't find the time" say "I am acting like a complete and absolute loser and if I continue acting like this I will NEVER achieve my musical goals". Because that statement is pretty painful to say, you'll soon stop making excuses!
3. Think of solutions.
For excuses that you normally make, think of ways of overcoming those obstacles. For example, if you are constantly using your work as a reason why you can't practice, ask yourself questions like?
"How can I get paid more but work less hours?".
"How can I get paid while I sleep?".
"How can I stay home all day and practice?".
If you ask enough questions like this on a daily basis, you will find a solution eventually.
4. Think of your "Why".
These are the reasons why you want to achieve your musical goals. If your why is strong enough, You will NEVER want to stop practicing for any reason.
5. Think of your role models.
Use your role models to motivate and inspire you to keep on practicing. Every time you start to make an excuse, ask yourself "Would__________make this excuse?" For example, one of my favourite guitarists is Steve Vai. I could NEVER imagine making him excuses for not practicing!
To finish off here's a quote that you may want to memorize?
"You can either become a great guitarist, or you can make excuses, but you can't do both".
Craig Bassett (The Guitar Solutions Expert) is a professional guitarist, guitar tutor and author living in Auckland, New Zealand.
For free online guitar lessons go to:
Free Online Guitar Lessons.
When memorizing music there are several things you can do... Read More
Fan support for musicians is a two way street. You... Read More
Many students think that being able to play what you... Read More
Interested in making money while you're asleep, or making money... Read More
Rocket Piano is a very professionally done piano lesson package.... Read More
IntroductionThe fact that you are holding this in your hands... Read More
Are you confused by the various types of music file... Read More
So it has come to this... what we see overrides... Read More
It's no secret that virtually everyone loves music in some... Read More
Many piano students spend much time learning how to play... Read More
Yowza! Did you hear that hideous noise? It sounded like... Read More
Author Interview with Ryan Thomson, seacoast New Hampshire resident, and... Read More
Disregard the popular image of rappers with their ghetto blasters,... Read More
Repetition is the key to learning something deeply. It works... Read More
Controlling the images of the mind through image projection has... Read More
From the Telecaster to the Flying V to the Iceman... Read More
His lockjaw delivery makes him look as gangsta as Marlon... Read More
Music licensing can be a very confusing subject. My... Read More
Almost everyone has heard about the massive crack down on... Read More
Whether played by a marching band, an orchestra, or a... Read More
Music is the art of arranging sounds in periodic time... Read More
New bands looking to book gigs and establish contacts often... Read More
Gibson guitars have been around forever. It's funny, but although... Read More
Following, is a list of alternative sources that may be... Read More
A lot of new age piano music consists of repeating... Read More
Why jazz piano improvisation?Why not gospel piano improvisation?Is it not... Read More
Did you know that the health and beauty of your... Read More
I was 17 at the time (the Beatles era), and... Read More
The gong is one of the oldest musical instruments in... Read More
Whenever I go to a Borders bookstore here in San... Read More
Do you remember the movie, Groundhog Day? In this wonderful... Read More
I have always had a big problem with my addiction... Read More
It's all over the news these days. Download music from... Read More
How many times have you turned to music to uplift... Read More
Everyone has a talent. For Miami, Okla.'s, Brian Beauchamp, it's... Read More
Do you remember finger-painting as a child? How fun it... Read More
President Harry S. Truman, the man in the White House... Read More
How To Construct Basic Chords on the PianoThe easiest way... Read More
Britney Spears was born December 2 1981 as Britney Jean... Read More
The violin is a bowed stringed instrument and is the... Read More
We call it music, ever noticed how vividly music triggers... Read More
Repetition is the key to learning something deeply. It works... Read More
Here's a method I use that works. First, sit down... Read More
In what way do the kinds of music (rock, rap,... Read More
Guitar chords, (chords played specifically on a guitar,) differ only... Read More
Rhapsody music, from RealNetworks is one of several reputable legal... Read More
Introduced in 1982, the compact disc was intended to provide... Read More
Meet the 12 Major Notes:1. C (do)2. C# - Db... Read More
IntroductionThe fact that you are holding this in your hands... Read More
A number of people have asked about my own methodology... Read More
Music & MP3 Music & MP3 |