This strong conviction to realize your life is beyond “successful” or “not successful.” Beyond any feeling of fear, you just do it. That is practice and that is the way-seeking mind, which goes beyond dualistic ideas of good and bad, right and wrong. You just Do it.-Shunryu Suzuki-roshi
No matter what genre or style of guitar you play, no one style is better. Being a guitar god like Joe Satriani or Hendrix is not the only measure of success.
The trick is to look inside yourself, and define your way for yourself. Don’t solely listen to outside opinions. You must look within yourself to find what is truly effective.
Once you realize what is effective to your personal music goals and dreams, you simply just go after it by acting. Too much time can be wasted thinking of the future and always analyzing what is happening. By being in the moment and being dedicated to a purpose, “just doing it” becomes the optimum choice for finding your unique way.
I recently read a great piece from Zen blogger, Derek Ayre, about Success and Failure. Click the link to read the full post:
Existing in the present moment it cannot be successful or a failure, it is simply so.
So tell me, what are you “doing” lately? Let me know!
2 responses so far ↓
1 Catherine Delgadillo // May 6, 2008 at 8:34 pm
I think a lot of us tend to analyze and worry a little too much. Thanks for the reminder to live in the moment for those moments is often where we find our purpose and our inspiration.
2 bob hardison // May 17, 2008 at 6:43 pm
As a kid just starting out, I read on the covers of Instruction Books, “Fun With The Guitar.” and FUN it was for a good while … until the criticism came. In stead of playing for personal happiness, I found early in life that others will take their liberty to DISECT your God given talents and personal joys, like disecting a frog in science class. - It hurts. This, can make one self conscious as hell.
Then there’s the “Who’s better than who” syndrome. Styles and natural techniques are different but, some people seem to think that playing guitar is supposed to be a particular way. Their, particular way. - This short circuits personal creativity and shruggs off individuality. Which to go full circle, The Business is always looking for players who are “unique.” Hmmm?
Strange.
Comment #1. is correct. It’s good to think things out but not to over analyze things. Not to make mountains out of mole hills. We often create our own obsticles, by dramatizing the situation in our mind, thinking way too much more effort is necessary when, what comes natural is fine. - just practice it. - shut the rest of the world out for a while. “zen” Perfect it on your terms then follow the instructions of those who listen … those who have walked this path a head of you. - Remember, those who are clueless have opinions too. Watch out for them! Learn to pick the ripe fruit, not the rotton or not yet ripened. (Sometimes it’s hard to tell.)
Playing the guitar is a beautiful thing. They say beauty is in the eye of the beholder … let that Beholder, be the one holding the guitar. - The rest will follow.
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