That's reassuring to hear, as it's something I really struggle with! For example, the same is true when I'm recording, and nowadays I've got a routine that helps me overcome it, but it is very cumbersome: I hit record and just play the piece many many times over and over, I'm not allowed to listen to the recording at all, and if I do at some point think I've got a "perfect" take, I force myself to record another one afterwards (the "perfect" take, is rarely actually perfect!) Do you have any tricks for getting out of your own way?
Well, I’m still struggling with this myself! The only thing that works is to listen more deeply to what’s behind the words or the notes and to remind myself that it isn’t about me but about the music (or the writing) that is pouring through me. The other important part of this is that I give myself permission to not be perfect, only human. Sometimes that helps as well….and I can never, ever think about how others will receive what I’m creating because when I do I start thinking more about my imagined audience than the work itself…
“If I expect it to be good, it very rarely is.”. So true in my creative work as well My best writing and playing happens when I get out of the way.
That's reassuring to hear, as it's something I really struggle with! For example, the same is true when I'm recording, and nowadays I've got a routine that helps me overcome it, but it is very cumbersome: I hit record and just play the piece many many times over and over, I'm not allowed to listen to the recording at all, and if I do at some point think I've got a "perfect" take, I force myself to record another one afterwards (the "perfect" take, is rarely actually perfect!) Do you have any tricks for getting out of your own way?
Well, I’m still struggling with this myself! The only thing that works is to listen more deeply to what’s behind the words or the notes and to remind myself that it isn’t about me but about the music (or the writing) that is pouring through me. The other important part of this is that I give myself permission to not be perfect, only human. Sometimes that helps as well….and I can never, ever think about how others will receive what I’m creating because when I do I start thinking more about my imagined audience than the work itself…
…as I said, it’s an ongoing journey for me…