|
|
Viewing Creative Demands Require Creative Self-Care for MusiciansCreative Demands Require Creative Self-Care for Musicians
|
The demands on those in a creative line of work are different from those in a nine to five office job. Both have demands, and both require you to be healthy in order to do properly, but they are different demands nonetheless. By Kevin Sinclair It is important that we all take care of ourselves. It is our individual responsibility to make sure that we nourish ourselves, inside and out. This is especially true for the creative person, such as a musician. The demands on those in a creative line of work are different from those in a nine to five office job. Both have demands, and both require you to be healthy in order to do properly, but they are different demands nonetheless. There are two very important beliefs that factor into self-care. The first fundamental belief is that it really does not matter what other people think about you. That is a hard concept to swallow for many people. We live in a very judgmental society. Part of that is because we feed into and promote negativity and unhealthy behavior. If you live your life to please those around you, you are not living life - you are missing life. Other people's points of view can be nice input, but do not live your life to make them happy, because then you will never be happy. The second fundamental belief, which is even harder for most people to accept, is that you deserve and have the right to be healthy, nourished, and happy. You must believe that. If you walk around thinking that you deserve to be beaten down or sick all the time, then that is what you will be. You must realize the power of your thoughts. Our thoughts are the most powerful weapon in the world. Self-care is nourishment for our souls. It includes positive belief patterns, a positive attitude, and gratitude. These three components supplement the above-mentioned beliefs. We are what we make ourselves. As within so without; in other words, if we are nourished on the inside our lives will be nourished on the outside. So what are you supposed to be doing for self-care? Make sure that you have a proper diet, which means balanced food intake such as fruits and vegetables, water, and protein. Self-care also requires that you have time to relax and reconnect with the world around you. It is not healthy to live inside our own little shells. Especially for a musician, you need to be in touch with what is going on around you. Self-care is important so that you are able to grow and flourish as an artist. It will become increasingly difficult to maintain your lifestyle if you are fatigued and undernourished. Caring for your creative self has many benefits. You will be more comfortable during performances. We all have performance anxiety, whether we like to admit it or not, but we can minimize it. Keeping your stress to a manageable level and keeping your negative thoughts to a minimum will help eliminate some of that performance anxiety. Connecting with the people and the world around you will provide inspiration, understanding, and support. Do not lock yourself away in a 'creative cocoon' - otherwise, you may run out of ideas. Making sure that you care for yourself properly will ensure that you have energy for all the things in your life, not just your music. I know the music is important, but so is the rest of your life. You need the support system from friends and/or fellow artists; you need to draw from their inspiration. The environment gives a wonderful canvas for you to play with. Increase your self-awareness and allow yourself to grow. These two factors will give your creative outlet depth and meaning. You are more likely to be less self-sabotaging if you are self-aware. We are our own worst critics. It is time to turn that critic off, for he/she is not always right. It is better to let him/her provide warning, but not dictate our lives. Taking time to relax is also a very important part of self-care. We need to have time in each day when we do nothing but relax. Take a walk in the park. Go for a drive through the country. Take time away from what you are doing, even if it is for only ten minutes. Ask for help. There is no greater sign of strength then asking for help. That's right - strength. You cannot do it all by yourself. It is okay to ask for help when you need it. Be grateful for what you have. You will be surprised at the amount of stress that disappears once you are thankful for what you have, instead of focusing on what you do not have. Daydream for awhile. That's right - daydream. This is a great stress reliever as well, and important to self-care. The key to a long career, regardless of what your career is, is that you never stop enjoying what you are doing. The moment the joy is gone, you have two options: 1) figure out why and fix it or 2) change careers. Chances are, if you are not taking care of yourself properly, you could be losing the joy you once had for music. If are stressed and your music becomes a chore, then you need to step back and relax. You need to start taking care of yourself to make sure that you have a long and successful career. About the Author: Kevin Sinclair is the publisher and editor of MusicianHome.com, a site that provides information and articles for musicians at all stages of their development. Article Source: 1st Rate Articles - http://1stRateArticles.com |
|