I knew going to Jazz Camp West for a week would re-energize the music side of my creative life. What I didn’t realize was that it would also illuminate a lie I’d been telling myself.
To be fair, I didn’t intentionally tell a lie. But still…
Busted!
Watch the video above for the full story, which references my artist friend Michele Theberge, who I met during an interview for the Thriving Artists Project, and which culminates in the song below.
Or if you don’t want any deep self-awareness stuff to push your creative life forward and just want to be entertained in Uke Diva fashion, go straight to the “music video.” I’ll never know.
PS – If you did watch the first video above, what lies have you busted yourself telling yourself? Inquiring minds want to know. Let’s inspire each other!
Interesting stuff Melissa, and glad you’ve got back to making music as your singing voice is great. And who couldn’t love a song about eye candy 😉
I’ve realised recently that I continually forget about how much experience I have, and always feel like a beginner, which really affects my confidence. I need to keep reminding myself how much I’ve achieved in the past!
I’ve picked up the guitar again recently, and also miss it when I ignore that side of me.
Thanks Milo! 🙂
I have a similar tendency to feel like a beginner. It definitely helps to look backwards at how far I’ve come, rather than always forwards to where I want to go!
Glad to hear you’re playing guitar again!
Thanks Melissa – not sure the neighbours feel the same way 😉
Heh! That’s why they call it “woodshedding.” Except those of us in cities don’t have woodsheds to go out and play in… 😉
Love this post Melissa!
I’ve been thinking a lot about the lies we tell ourselves lately and how they prevent us from having real freedom in our lives and writing about in my blog too. These lies not only prevent us from making space to follow creative bliss,but also from pursuing our dreams, either way the hold us back and prevent us from living a kick-ass life.
If I’m honest, I tell myself the same lie you were telling yourself- I don’t have enough bandwidth to do everything I want to do. For me it is an excuse not to push myself and really put myself out there in my writing and offerings. So now I’ve been focusing on how to make the whole process feel good and energizing. Taking lots of breaks through out the day helps keep my brain power energized.
Your song is awesome! Will you be performing Eye Candy in your upcoming comedy show?
Thanks Leah! So great to hear from you!
It’s a tricky balance, not letting the lies get in the way, while also being realistic about how much a body can do at one time. One of the hardest lessons I had to learn was that I simply couldn’t do everything all the time. There is a limit, after all.
But.
Sometimes what appears to be a real limit is simply Resistance masquerading as one.
The challenge is in telling them apart. This is where gut-checks come in handy!
Melissa! I now have a huge grin from ear to ear after listening to Eye Candy. What a gorgeous way to start my Monday morning (I get the feeling it’s going to be stuck on my brain…)
OK. Lies I tell myself. The not enough bandwidth is actually a big one, isn’t it? I know I am guilty of that. Although, of course, I don’t think it’s a lie at all. Another lie is the one about needing to feel inspired to start. What I know now (most of the time:) is that I need to start to feel inspired.
And the one about not enough time to leave a ‘good enough’ comment for you? I think I’ve just busted that one!
Hooray! So glad my song made you smile, Karen! And I’m utterly delighted you busted the lie that you don’t have enough time to leave a “good enough” comment for me! (Those lies are sneaky little b*st*rds, aren’t they?)