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