Sometimes when a person is super focused on accomplishing a goal, a person can feel down as they look at the massive mountain they are trying to climb. It’s hard not to focus on how far we are from achieving our goals and this feeling is sometimes enough for a person to want to give up. Although we are more inclined to focus on the things we have yet to achieve and the things we don’t have, it is important to take time to see all the things you HAVE accomplished and what you already currently have in your life.

What things did you accomplish yesterday? 

What did you accomplish last week? 

The last month?

The last year?

Take the time to actually write these accomplishments. Sometimes we realize we have accomplished much more than we realized. There is always more to accomplish and more to work on, but taking time to celebrate the small accomplishments will give you the energy to reach your next goals.

Remember why you are doing this in the first place: When the going gets tough and you are feeling discouraged, it is important to remember why you are pursuing music in the first place. Are you still in touch with your initial reasons for pursuing a career in music? Are you reasons still the same, or have they changed? Are you still on the same path? Or do you want to change the direction of the path? The ultimate question is: is this still making you happy? If the answer no, then some changes need to be made!

Trumpet player, Theo Croker, makes an awesome point in this video. He mentions how doctors take 10-12 years studying medicine before they get their first official job as a doctor. So, why shouldn’t it take the same amount of time to make your first album, or 10-12 years to get where you are trying to get to? He also speaks about how when you get to the top of mountain, that is just the bottom of another mountain you are going to want to climb. What is the top of the mountain anyway? There will always be more that we want to accomplish so the point is to enjoy the journey, because if you enjoy the journey, than you can’t lose, because everyday you end up feeling like a successful person, and will feel more satisfied and have more fun. The journey is a rich one too, which tons of incredible things to learn, and wonderful people to meet and share with.

Redirecting focus of your life:

It is also important to focus on other aspects of our lives in order to have a freshness when approaching our songs and our music. Here are a few suggestions of different activities to remember to do:

Watch movies: Sometimes when music is starting to feel too much like work or I just need a break, I will do just that and watch some movies. Movies are a great way to gain new perspectives, and get in touch with emotions you didn’t even know you were feeling. It’s always good to give our brains a bit of a rest and just watch stories on film and FEEL.

Read books: Do you have a ton of books on your shelf that you bought and never finished or never even started? Try one out! Have fun relaxing, and learn a few things at the same time.

Go home for a visit: For some, going home can be the most refreshing, energizing experience. I know there is so much to do, but if you are feeling run down ( I know I do sometimes!) make sure to take a step back and go home and go to the park, or the beach, or just chill on the couch and eat some home cooked lovin’. 🙂

Call your family: If home is too far or too expensive, make some scheduled times to talk to the people you love and who love you. If Sunday is a relaxed day for you,  that can be a good one for checking in with family and friends.

Make a list of all the things you are grateful for: (here are some things we sometimes forget to be grateful for)

• Your health
• Your Eyes
• Healthy Ears
• Legs
• Arms
• Housing
• Food
• Friends
• Your family
• Your talent
• Being an artist
• Being a creative and curious being

These are just the basics so please be sure to add all the things you are  personally grateful for on this list!

Last but not least:

Listen to music!

Isn’t it funny  how musicians and singer/songwriters can get so wrapped up in their own music that they don’t even listen to music anymore? I often have to remind myself to listen to music, but when I do, I am so grateful because A) music feels so good and B) other people’s music will help remind you why you love music so much and how music makes listeners feel which can then in turn affect your songwriting skills. So pop in those favorite CDs (or put on your favorite Pandora or Youtube station), turn off your analytic brain, and just enjoy some music!

You’ll be glad you did. 🙂