Wanted to start releasing short blurbs, written in an hour or less, to help practice writing my thoughts down quickly. Be patient as very little editing will be part of these.
I’ve been thinking a lot about achievement and where I am in my life. I’m on the way to where I want to be but not there yet. It can feel incredibly challenging to enjoy the process. This is beaten to death today in Social Media culture from success gurus and self help folks.
There was a time when I had 3 significant sources of income and was the heaviest I’ve been and most unhappy. For my needs, I had more money than I knew what to do with then.
I worked as an Executive Admin, then worked my way up to a Senior IT Project Manager. It was rewarding in ways but it’s very stressful especially for someone who cares way too much. If I could have disconnected at night and on the weekends I would have kept doing it but I couldn’t ever escape it.
I’ve felt a bit of malaise at times from being in what feels like a never ending transition. I work for myself, make a decent living and allow time to work on my creative endeavors. Most importantly music, songwriting, producing and perhaps even more technical aspects.
I still have multiple sources of income but I make less than I used to but my expenses are less and I’m much, much happier and less stressed.
I am currently studying what I can, practicing when I can and waiting for my newest computer in many years to start setting up my recording space.
The other day as I was commuting on my bike. I was feeling the weight from the trying and failing, not being efficient enough. From not having the energy. Not having the focus….Not Not Not…
So as I was riding, instead of focusing on the negative, I started visualizing what my wake up, commute and days are like with the front to end of each day, being music, creating, mixing (as I learn) perhaps, whatever else that fills my soul. I intend to keep doing this because if you have read my other stories you know I’ve experienced the positive outcomes from visualization and subsequent manifestation working.
As I was saying, I try but some days, I’m tired at the end of my days and some days I am not productive. As productive as I believe I should be. The times I set aside time to dive in, I feel myself procrastinating to dive in, probably for a variety of reasons. One of them being do I practice, do I write, do I do work on admin…? The overwhelm of those thoughts, paralyzes any movement and I procrastinate.
How do I fix that in practical terms? Everyone says it but sleep is number one. Closely followed by exercise and eating well. 100% makes a difference.
I also realized that I need to schedule in my downtime which immediately helped my mind. Schedule in work time, (investment for my dream) music/creative time and relax chill time.
I also took a leap and as of June 1st I’m going to be renting half a studio space to see if being in another space, in the evenings / weekends that my focus and productivity changes. If this doesn’t work I may completely change course and only seek out more folks to record my songs.
I will report back soon and see what’s evolved.
The road to our version of success, our dream(s), goals is sometimes just shit. It’s hard. It can be tedious. But, it’s also exciting, invigorating and unexpected. Many roads will be paved over mountains and valleys but as long as we pave it with possibility, who cares how we get there!
Thank you for reading…
Rise Above,
JM
EveryThing McNutt 