Adrenaline rush….ideas flowing….major change in the air. Ahhhh, taking time to stop, to breathe…..I’m still in the middle of launching my Great Performance System and couldn’t be more excited to share it with you. I feel driven and empowered to put out to the world a whole new mind set on music education and how it can create confident performers. Hopefully by next week Monday the basic structure will be in place.

My blog will be changing to reflect this shift. Any thoughts as to a new title? I’m thinking: “Tip of the Week for Confident Awesome Musical Performing”.  A little long I think….What do you think?

Rush me your ideas. Thanks!

I’m finding that following the 5 steps continues to keep me grounded as I launch this new concept. Note to self:  always follow the five steps: (1) Eat real food 2) Exercise 3) Meditate 4) Journal 5) Release tension through the breath.

So, I’m wondering if living simply, includes getting up at 2:00am and working strait through, napping for an hour in the afternoon and then working until 9:00pm the next day. I was amazed at the surge of energy and ideas that just kept flowing. At times, I wanted my mind to stop and yet I felt as if it was out of my control. I created a vision board, with a list of 10 goals….plus my ideal weekly routine, with, I’m proud to say, weekends free to hike and play (and of course speaking). Then I launched into creating my new business plan with telecasts series featuring my Great Performing System, my new Signature Talk and handbook for teachers and performers. It feels as if I’m on fire and when you’re on fire, you can’t go wrong. I couldn’t be more excited.

So, I’ve been writing this blog about soothing the central nervous system and living simply and here I am on fire with new ideas. I’m now, today, taking action, and refocusing my business. Yet, at the same time, I remain committed to t the 5 steps. In the mist of this download from the Universe , I know it’s more important than ever to have “me” time…..yoga, breath, singing, and lots of time in the hot tub. I know that when I find myself in this creative space, this time of chaotic creation where time stops, I’m living in heaven. It’s not within my control and thank goodness for that. I create and stay centered, still practicing the 5 steps 1) Eat real food 2) Exercise 3) Meditate 4) Journal 5) Release tension through the breath . 

My blog will be changing to be in alignment with my new business direction. Next week, my new business direction will be revealed. It’s not new for me, but a refocus to add depth and more value to my work. I enter fun, yet scary times as I leap into the unknown…but it’s time. I remember to breathe.

As I was passing time at the airport, waiting for my flight, I saw a ring that said, “Live Simply”. I stood starring at the thing, thinking how complex my life really is and wondering what living simply meant. What came to me is that “living simply”, means living in alignment with my values. To break this down, it means having the time to do my work with excellence. And to break this down, it means having the time to balance work, with time for family and friends, plus my own self care. Living simply was about space in my life, and not running crazy…. Not being mediocre and out of control. When living from a place of simplicity, I follow the 5 steps (1) Eat real food 2) Exercise 3) Meditate 4) Journal 5) Release tension through the breath. I have time to do my work with excellence. I am relaxed, centered, present and available to be of service.

In my last blog, I talked about having my Spring Cleaning Day, and eliminating what was creating chaos in my life. I continue to make the changes that reflect the decisions I made that day. Now, I reflect on “living simply”. Yes, I bought the ring! And now, as I stare at it, I recommit to asking the questions, “Will this decision support my decision to live simply? Will this decision support my ability to stay balanced and in alignment with my values?” If the answer is no, I say “no”. Before saying yes, I take time to reflect on how this new item may affect everything else I do. If yes, I go for it with gusto. If no, I let it go with confidence that the decision was right on. Life is short….live fully!

  Remember me talking about my Spring Cleaning Day for life? Well, not only did I have a day or two to reflect, but a week with plenty of time to think. I was up at the crack of dawn, well really about 3:00am. I couldn’t wait to get to my yellow sticky note pads. I wrote down everything I do in my life. Then I removed any sticky with an activity that no longer served me or just plain frustrated me. This was followed by creating four different life styles….playing with different ways to play through life. Then, I looked at the financial aspects of each and finally, I just sat and noticed how my body responded to each lifestyle. The one I selected was the one that felt the most energetic and presented the most for getting me up and excited each day. Did you do it? What did you discover?

It is pouring rain up here today and as I listen to the rain, I am reminded how nature too cleanses itself with rain, sometimes, floods and fires. It’s the natural process to cleanse and make room for the new. What are you washing away? What are you making room for?

I have not thrown away my five steps to a relaxed nervous system….tooo precious.
Remember the Five Steps: 1) Eat real food 2) Exercise 3) Meditate 4) Journal 5) Release tension through the breath

For me, to improvise music means to listen and feel into the sound, allowing each internal impulse to be expressed through your instrument or voice. I find as I spend more time in this state of flow, my body feels more relaxed and just plain satisfied. I usually play in a mode or key. If the last sentence makes no sense to you, just try beginning and ending on the same note. Your music doesn’t have to be complex; in fact I find that playing more simply allows me to spend time listening and absorbing the sounds. Ahhh, a river of sound moving through my body…refreshing and soothing. I plan to add improvisation into my 5 steps, as a meditation. Join me?

So, I go back to the Five Steps with a simple shift: 1) Eat real food 2) Exercise 3) Meditate (Improvise) 4) Journal 5) Release tension through the breath

Do you ever find yourself unmotivated and needing a little electrical charge of energy? Me too!  This is exactly why I have been providing PowerUp Performance Seminars for performers. This Saturday, July 24th, in Denver, is the next event.

But whether you partake in my seminar or not, finding a seminar, a workshop or presentation in your area of passion is critical to keeping the creative juices flowing and being at the top of your game. You can always learn something new or gain a new insight giving you new perspectives.

People sometimes wonder why I continue to study, continue to push myself. One reason is because I always want to be on the leading edge of what’s new in my field. The second reason is because I love to experiment with new ideas and don’t want to become stagnate and wake up to discover that I’m old, outdated and not at the top of my game. Either way we’re in the game or not. Being “in”, means continuing to study, to learn and to challenge our knowledge and abilities no matter how much of an expert we think we are.

Even when I find all the material that is being presented is old, I value the time to network, and to analyze what worked in the workshop and what just didn’t. I never leave an event feeling I wasted time. Sometimes, I may be bored a bit, but I make sure it’s never a waste. Instead, I make sure that I’m positive and taking the time to churn out new ideas and ways of thinking. Always embracing the challenge of new ideas or rethinking old ideas, I leave events charged from the energy of  people growing, learning and stretching themselves. Find an event that peaks your interest and sign up.   How fun…

I wanted to title this blog anxiety be gone, and then I thought, “No, a certain amount of anxiety is good and alerts us to a need for change, and may actually propel us to action. So, the question becomes how do I get my anxiety to be gentle? Following the five steps helps, but they is one very important missing point. That missing point is the need to simplify our life…to create space…more time for ourself. My anxiety actually alerted me to the need to do this in my life. It’s interesting to me that this is probably the step that I have the most difficulty with, yet it wasn’t in the original plan. I love to create, and am constantly coming up with new ideas, all of which require more time. AND, I want to do more and more: more classes, more practice, more writing, and more presentations. So once again I go back to the breath, relax my shoulders and just stop my gerbil running brain.

I create the plan…Are you in? I’m planning one day to do nothing but make a list of everything I do in my life. What feeds me in my life stays, what doesn’t, goes. It’ll be like a spring cleaning of my life…sending what I no longer need to Goodwill for other people “to do”. I can’t do this alone. Let’s support each other. The life spring cleaning date is Saturday, July 31st. Anybody interested in having a breakfast meeting to kick off the Spring Cleaning Day? Let me know. I’ll keep you posted…

Remember the Five Steps: 1) Eat real food 2) Exercise 3) Meditate 4) Journal 5) Release tension through the breath

So, I almost did it again. I got up this morning with a million and one things to do and thought, “I’ll just skip yoga, that’ll give me an extra hour.” Then, I thought, “No, take a pause, it’ll all get done eventually.” I went to yoga, stretched, strengthened, breathed and let go of my 20 page to-do list.

How do I want to spend my time? I pause, breathe and remind myself that by stopping the flurry of office activity I think clearer and am more productive. Exercise, meditation, journaling and taking time to eat enriches my day. When I launch into a state of anxiety over “time”, it just resets my nervous system to be higher strung and more easily triggered into full blown anxiety.

So, I go back to the Five Steps: 1) Eat real food 2) Exercise 3) Meditate 4) Journal 5) Release tension through the breath

   This past weekend my husband and I had the pleasure of taking care of our three grandchildren, ages three, six and nine. Although the whole weekend was delightful, I learned the most about the ability to “totally let go” and embrace performance and life, uninhibited and free by watching the antics of my three year granddaughter.

From a performance perspective, a three year expects people to find her wonderful, charming and perfect. (And they do!) She moves through her day in costume, singing, dancing and chatting. She is relaxed knowing that approval and unconditional love and support are hers. She is an out-of-the-box mover and shaker. Creatively she is unaware of culturally and socially acceptable boundaries. She is open to being herself in a way that is fresh and free-spirited.…a true artist of her craft.

We could all learn a lot about performance and life, by following even a little bit of the above 3-year old formula. Our nervous system would not need to be as tuned into the fear of mistakes or a disapproving audience; however it’s tricky as an adult. Most of us have experienced disapproval, withdrawal of positive attention from key people in our life, and a lack of supportive people in general. So, we shut down a bit, take fewer risks, learn the ropes of what’s OK in other people’s eyes. We cut off the crazy, fun, free-spirited 3-year-old energy in favor of the safe, culturally approved way of performing and living. The truth is, it’s that out-of-the –box creativity and freedom that brings joy and ultimately success on stage. Tune into the energy of being three.

And as for the 5 Steps….

Following the Five Steps from a three year old perspective is, Step one: Eat only when you’re hunger. Taste every morsel and roll your eyes in delight when it’s really good.  Step two: Love music and your ability to dance and move….float, flow, jump, stretch, using your imagination to create your own dance. Step Three: Space out when necessary Step Four: Write unending letters just for the fun of it Step Five: Let your belly be soft, round and love it!

A reminder of the Five Steps: 1)Eat real food 2) Exercise 3) Meditate 4) Journal 5) Release tension through the breath

 It’s so like me to create  impossible expectations of myself, and then give myself 20 lashes for not measuring up. I planned to travel, have two major public speaking events at a conference in Texas and on top of this, expected myself to maintain the 5 steps: A reminder of the Five Steps: 1)Eat real food 2) Exercise 3) Meditate 4) Journal 5) Release tension through the breath

I brought little baggies of nuts and granola, plus energy bars to the conference to have with me, so I wouldn’t be hunger if I had to skip a meal. These came in handy as I spent many hours manning my Positive Innerchange display booth and selling my books and CDs. Score one for me! Two of the five days I had spinach omelets and lots of fruit for breakfast. Score two for me! The other three days, I was rushing around downing chocolate muffins for breakfast…Oops…minus one for me. I had a wonderful salad for dinner one night, but the other nights I know I could have made better choices. Minus two for me…Most of the days I was exhausted, setting up the booth, speaking, and talking with people for 8-9 hours straight. I just went to bed. I scheduled exercise into my days at the conference, but just didn’t follow through. On a plus note, the first and last days I did go for walks and attend a session called pianoyoga. Other than that, my good intensions went out the window….just too tired to move. Meditation and Journaling…nope. ..minus two more. Breathing? Yes, thank goodness for the breath! One more plus!

We Focus on “Not Being Too Hard on Yourself”

“Was I being too hard on myself?” The answer is yes. It’s just as important to review what I did right as it is to review what I could have done better. I did the best I could. I didn’t come home sick and I had wonderful, successful presentations and book sales. There is no point in being angry at myself or dissatisfied for my lack of disciple. So, for now I let it go and plan to travel with lower expectations next time. I plan to be gentler with myself and look for opportunities of more joy and fun, even if that means just “me time” snuggled in watching TV. I’m off to LA in two weeks. Any travel ideas that have worked for you?

I breathe and allow myself to settle gently into my normal routine at home. I let go of the need to punish myself, which just sets me up for another vicious cycle of high expectations followed by failure followed once again by higher, more impossible expectations…..more failure. I breathe. I soften and relax my body. I find compassion for the imperfect being I am. Yet, I know that peak performance is about finding balance and about following the 5 steps. I begin again….giving up is never an option.

Today, I’m more rested and ready to begin to shift gears into work. Due to allowing my body to rest, I begin with a clearer mind and a more relaxed body. Try this, it works!