Subject: Declare Independence!
You are getting this e-mail because you subscribed to it on www.learn-to-play-rock-guitar.com. If you don't want to receive these e-mails any longer, go to the bottom of this message and click on "unsubscribe." Hey there Friend, I'm on a journey... how about you? My journey is about freedom and independence through music. How appropriate that today happens to be the day the United States declared its independence from England back in 1776. Happy Fourth of July, America!I haven't always been clear on the direction I've wanted to go. In fact, even now I can't say I'm 100 percent sure where I want to be down the road, but I do know music is the one thing that has consistently brought me a sense of purpose and fulfillment. Unlike the United States quest for independence, where there was a unified goal for most of the people living here, our goals tend to be more personal and individual in nature. We don't typically have the benefit taking part in a movement to achieve our objectives. We're pretty much on our own. That's not to say that we're completely alone in our pursuit of said goals, but oftentimes we have to rely on our own sense of self to keep us going. That can be really difficult. Why? It takes a very driven and disciplined person to create, follow and complete a plan over an extended period of time, especially when that mission is outside of the daily grind. Let's face it, most of us just aren't wired that way. Our ancestors haven't done us any favors by buying into the notion that we should sell ourselves to the highest bidder for 40+ hours a week at some job. This has taught us to find a place where we can trade our hours for dollars in order to pay for things we need. But it hasn't moved us any closer to the levels in Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs that satisfy our souls. In fact, the idea of employment is becoming more questionable today. The days when you could count on a company to give you a lifetime career are long gone. The M.O. for most companies now is to reduce every expense to squeeze more profit from their revenues, no matter who or what that hurts. Unfortunately, the people affected most by this approach are both the people who labor to bring those revenues in and the customers . Add to that most of us do work that really isn't very fulfilling. We didn't chose the job because it was what we always dreamed of doing. We took the job because it would pay the bills and maybe give us a little extra to save or live a little better than our parents did. At the end of the day if we're honest with ourselves, we'd be a lot happier overall doing something we actually enjoy. No brainer, right? So why don't we just go after what we want? Why is it so difficult for us to break out of the routines and habits we have - or better yet, to create better habits that move us towards the work we are meant to do? There are a lot of factors to consider, but let's focus on one today. I think the first roadblock we face is we don't feel like we have permission to pursue the type of work we want to do. If your life is anything like mine, you have responsibilities. Family to provide for, bills to pay. Anything you want to pursue outside of work, family and living requires that you take part of your already limited time and devote it to the goal. You might feel guilty about wanting to carve out a few hours a week towards "something else," especially when that something else is outside of your current career field or the interest of your family and friends. Other people might look at this personal goal as a hobby, and at first, it may start out that way. We usually put too much stock in what other people think, and this slows us down from taking steps towards taking that "hobby" and turning it into a vocation. But there comes a time when you need to give yourself permission to accept that work for the sake of a paycheck isn't enough of an incentive to do that for the rest of your life (or as long as there is a job for you). You need to give yourself permission to explore the possibilities around the work you want to do. This might be difficult to do given your responsibilities, but for your own sanity, it's worth the challenge. You'll be happier, which will only serve to make life better all around. For me, that's music. I love the songwriting process. I love the performance aspect of music. I obviously love talking about it. I'm even interested in the marketing side of growing a fan base. I do as much as I can to immerse myself in all things music related. What is it for you? I understand that guitar might only be a hobby for you and that you have no interest in music as a lifestyle. Whatever the case, are you doing anything to pursue the work that gets you excited? Take today to reflect on that. Are you doing work that gives you a sense of purpose and fulfillment? If so, awesome - keep doing it. But if you're not doing work that you're excited to do, think about what it would take for you start moving in the direction of work that means something to you. Give yourself permission to dream about how your life would look if work wasn't work, but just another day of fun - fun that you get paid to do! That to me is the definition of independence and freedom. Stand up and declare your independence today, then start the work to make it reality in your life. Rock & Roll! Peace~ Dave Dave "Eddie" Vance is a rock guitar enthusiast and gear nut. He has been playing guitar for over 30 years and enjoys tormenting the neighbors every chance he gets. When he's not slaving for the man, you can find him rocking out with his B.C. Rich Bich guitar, a cold beer and some sweet tunes. He also runs Learn-To-Play-Rock-Guitar.com, but you knew that already! Follow Learn To Play Rock Guitar:I welcome your feedback! Did you like today's message? What other topics would you like to see covered in my e-mails? Please let me know at: dave@learn-to-play-rock-guitar.com As always, please feel free to forward this email to a friend! I review products before recommending them. If you buy a product based on my recommendation, I will receive a commission. However, my emails also contain links that don’t require any investment on your part and are jam-packed with "juicy, guitar learnin' tastiness". We don't rent or share your name with anybody. Feel free to forward this issue to any friends you think would enjoy its contents. They will thank you. So will I.
|
