| Here's a quick question for you. What's | | | | "never had time to practice". How |
| the one biggest thing stopping you from | | | | sad!Luckily, not everyone has this loser |
| becoming the guitarist that you truly | | | | preception. I have students who are just |
| want to be? Is it lack of time to | | | | as busy (or busier!) but perceive the |
| practice? How about lack of money to get | | | | whole situation differently. They see |
| guitar lessons? How about a spouse who | | | | their nine to five job as a challenge. |
| doesn't support your guitar playing | | | | They meet this challenge by getting up |
| endevours? Or what about having to work | | | | early to practice. They also make sure |
| long hours to support your family?If | | | | that they exercise regularly so that |
| you're like 97% of guitarists, you said | | | | they also have the energy to practice |
| the wrong answer. The right answer is | | | | after work as well. Bottom line? They |
| YOU. Everyone is their own biggest | | | | are steadily progressing towards their |
| obstacle to their guitar playing | | | | musical goals and dreams!Can you see how |
| progress. Before you get offended and | | | | the different preceptions of the same |
| abuse me, let me explain further...I | | | | circumstance caused two different sets |
| believe strongly that our reality is | | | | of actions?Let's now look at a simple |
| based not on our circumstances but our | | | | way that you can perceive your "negative |
| PERCEPTION to our circumstances. This | | | | circumstances" differently. Please |
| means that you could have two guitarists | | | | follow the following steps...***Step |
| in exactly the same situation who react | | | | One***Write down a circumstance in your |
| completely differently to that | | | | life that you feel is slowing down your |
| situation. I'll give you a real life | | | | guitar progress.***Step Two***Write down |
| example...I have a roommate who works a | | | | exactly HOW the circumstance prevents |
| nine to five job. Nothing unusual | | | | you from progressing.***Step |
| there...a lot of people do. | | | | Three***Write down at least ten action |
| Unfortunately this roommate uses his job | | | | steps that you could take to overcome |
| as an excuse not to practice. He says | | | | the circumstance. Don't stop until you |
| that when he gets home from work he's | | | | have at least ten.***Step Four***Just do |
| always too tired to practice. I | | | | it! Take action and DO the action steps. |
| suggested to him once that he could get | | | | Do what ever it takes. Remember...your |
| up an hour earlier each day to practice. | | | | musical development is at stake!One last |
| This comment caused him to look at me | | | | thought. I believe that for EVERY excuse |
| like I was insane. Bottom line? My | | | | you could ever have, there are |
| roommate isn't willing to make a VERY | | | | guitarists in the world who have |
| small lifestyle change to pursue his | | | | overcome exactly the same excuse.Craig |
| musical dreams. Most likely he'll go to | | | | Bassett is a professional guitarist, |
| his grave lamenting the fact that he | | | | author and guitar tutor. |