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The 10 Minute Jazz Lesson Podcast

Want to Get Better? Don’t Give Up When it Gets Uncomfortable!

October 20, 2018 by Nick Mainella Leave a Comment

I did a lot of practicing this week. It felt really good to get a ton of hours in a short period of time and I can already feel the benefits and growth when I’m on the bandstand. I have to tell you though, I wanted to quit at least 10 times throughout the week as well. Not quit for the day, but more like quit music and learn how to do computer programming or something like that.

This is such a common thought that pops into my head when I’m working on something so hard that my brain feels like it’s going to leak out of my ears. It can feel the same way as physical exercise. Rather than run that one extra mile you know you should, it would be SO MUCH EASIER to just call it a day and block your failure out of your head while watching some TV.

Getting a complicated concept into your playing is hard, I’m not saying that it isn’t. In fact, it’s one of the hardest things you can ever do in your life. But this specifically, is the thing that will get you to the next level.

Human beings don’t handle discomfort well. Especially nowadays where we are so unused to it. Let’s face it, most of our lives are pretty darn comfortable and rarely do we strain ourselves to a breaking point mentally or physically. But whether for mental or physical gains, this is exactly what we should be doing!

No growth comes without discomfort. 

Next time you’re practicing and you get to the point where your entire being is telling you to quit and go do something else, don’t let your mind go into that negative space. It will try and it will do everything in its power to get you to quit and do something easier.

Turn the negative into a positive!

Immediately get yourself out of that negative state of mind and realize that the feeling of being at the edge of your mental and physical capabilities is exactly where you want to be. You are now in the growth zone. After all, what’s the point of practicing everyday if you aren’t growing??

So if you tend to quit when something gets hard or, if you’re being honest with yourself, your practice routine is not all that challenging, ratchet up the difficulty and get used to being uncomfortable!  If you do this on a regular basis it’s not all that big of a deal anymore and you may grow to love it. And once you grow to love it you, my friend, are in a great position to accomplish everything you ever wanted and more.

Talk Soon,

Nick

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