| A couple of years ago I went to a one day | | | | the past month or so. My body felt like it was in |
| meditation retreat with Cheri Huber. One of the | | | | competition, even when it wasn't. Why? Because I |
| guided meditations centered on practice. She said | | | | neglected that part of me. That emotional trait had |
| that everything in life is practice. And she meant | | | | been deprived for a couple of months. If I had not |
| EVERYTHING! | | | | paid attention to the small signs - the small repetitive |
| At first, I was skeptical. I know that as a musician, | | | | actions - I could have gotten myself into a sticky and |
| the way I practice is the way I perform. For | | | | unnecessary situation. Because of this awareness |
| example, I insist that my music students focus on | | | | evaluation, I noticed them, and am now taking care |
| their breathing technique - even when goofing off | | | | of it. I found a gym where I felt comfortable, with |
| and playing for their friends. Why? The more they | | | | people who will push me to my limit - and allow me |
| breathe correctly in "fun play," the more likely they | | | | to push back. Problem solved. |
| are to breathe correctly when on stage. What about | | | | Take some time to think about your actions. What |
| the students who ignore my advice? They are the | | | | repetitive actions do you take? What actions do you |
| very ones who have a difficult time on stage and | | | | respond to automatically? Just take note. |
| perform below their ability. | | | | Last, what about our beliefs? Our beliefs shape who |
| The way I carry myself, view myself, beliefs I hold | | | | we are and how we see the world around us. This |
| about myself, my actions, my repetitive thoughts...it is | | | | one is worth spending some time with. |
| all practice. All of these things prepare me for my | | | | What kind of person are you? What things are you |
| day and ingrain a pattern of behavior that repeats - | | | | good or bad at? What struggles do you face? What |
| exactly as I practice it. | | | | things do you dread or look forward to? Why? Jot |
| There are three evaluation points that we must pay | | | | down your thoughts as they come up. No judgment, |
| attention to, in order to gain self awareness. They | | | | just facts. |
| include thoughts, actions, and beliefs. Here are the | | | | The practice of your beliefs creates your reality. |
| top three questions to ask yourself: | | | | Your brain will begin to believe the beliefs to be true; |
| What beliefs do I practice? | | | | it will then scan your environment for evidence that |
| What thoughts and feelings go through my mind daily | | | | they are true. For example, if you believe you are |
| to prepare me for the kind of life I am living? | | | | weak, and you practice that belief in your mind, your |
| What automatic actions do I take on a regular basis? | | | | brain will look for examples to prove that it is true. |
| What actions are instant reactions instead of | | | | The heavy trash can you have trouble taking to the |
| decisions? | | | | street? Proof that you are weak. The car door that |
| First, lets take a look at your thoughts. If I could | | | | seems heavier than normal? Proof that you are |
| record all of the thoughts that go through your mind | | | | weak. The workout that did not go very well? More |
| every day, what would I hear? What kind of things | | | | proof that you are weak. Then, your body will begin |
| do you talk to yourself about? What do you wish | | | | to react to your environment as if you are truly |
| you could say to other people? What thoughts are | | | | weak. You will unconsciously begin to avoid heavy |
| you practicing, mindlessly? I call this mind chatter. | | | | objects and perform below ability in your work outs. |
| Everyone does it. The quality of it is what makes a | | | | The unfortunate part of this story is that you are |
| difference in your day. | | | | actually strong. The trash can is heavier this week |
| Is your mind chatter sarcastic? Defensive? | | | | because someone dumped an old steel wheel in it |
| Explanatory? Pleading? Having a pity party? Pay | | | | while you were not looking. And the car door? It was |
| attention to what your mind is telling you - pay close | | | | a friend's car that needs its hinges greased. |
| attention to how your mind is telling you these things. | | | | Remember the workout that did not work out. Your |
| After you have the gist of your thought patterns, | | | | brain "forgot" that you were sick the night before |
| turn your attention to your actions. What behaviors | | | | from the 24 hour flu that was going around. Your |
| do you repeat and practice without even noticing? | | | | body was still in its recovery stage. |
| Do you bite your fingernails? Do you exercise | | | | The brain does not pick up on these logical |
| excessively? Overeat? Pace in worry? Talk fast? Feel | | | | explanations because it is too busy looking for |
| like you are in a hurry? Sleep too much? Repetitive | | | | confirming evidence that you are weak. |
| actions are usually a signal to yourself that there is an | | | | This is why it is a good idea to spend a great deal of |
| unexpressed emotion. | | | | time evaluating your belief systems. Make sure they |
| For example, I was acting very competitively over | | | | are factually true. |