Getting Back On the Horse

2012 is quickly coming to a close. How is your life and singing career progressing? Is your vocal technique in A+ ready mode to help launch you into a professional career or move you to the next rung of that professional ladder? Have you chosen the appropriate arias and are they performance ready? Are you seeing positive results from your plan of action? Better yet, do you have a plan of action? Are you moving closer to your goals? Or do you feel less inspired and let down by the results of your endeavors? Perhaps you feel stuck with nothing new happening and are frustrated and ready to throw in the towel?

Everyone feels this way from time to time. The question is how do you surmount this crazy, big and overwhelming feeling of non productive time going by especially if you have colleagues and friends that seem to be sailing along with all kinds of amazing opportunities coming their way and seeming successful at every turn?

It’s time to take it down a notch and give yourself some breathing room to clear out all of the old doubts and unproductive habits and put a new plan into practice. Maybe it’s only been a day, week or month that this kind of behavior and thinking has been in place, but it’s time for change. And you are the only one that can make that happen. How about choosing to look at some new and interesting tools to get you unstuck? And the good news is that these new tools and ideas can be used throughout your life because there will always be those ups and downs no matter where you are or what you are doing. And as you know each part of your life, is related and reflects on the other parts of your life. And of course the more you use these tools and ideas to get unstuck, the better you get at recognizing the symptoms and making the necessary adjustments even before they take over your mind.

I am suggesting that instead of treating just the symptoms or broken system, you can start getting to the root cause. It helps put the excitement back into getting on track because you recognize your real purpose, the engine that drives it all.

"Life begins at the end of your comfort zone." - Neale Donald Walsch

There are three steps to getting unstuck so grab pencil and paper or get to your computer because here they are:
1. First and foremost it’s important to admit that you are stuck. That means taking the time to recognize the symptoms.

• Are you afraid to admit that you are stuck? Start by describing the nature and period of your being stuck.
• Do you know exactly what you are stuck by or on? Is it on or in a particular thing, person, or situation?
• What are you trying to achieve? Is achieving this "thing" messing with your core values and what you believe in?
• Who could you reach out to if you need some help with this?

2. Diagnose why you are stuck by understanding what is at the root of it all. You definitely feel stuck, but aren't sure why.

• Everything seems like too much work, there are too many moving parts, and you don't have enough time, energy or money to get it all done. You feel exhausted.
• You are too burned out to move ahead; you are overwhelmed. You start feeling resentful and fear can become the focus of your thoughts as you become more cynical.
• You have no big picture to check in against from time to time. There seems to be no clear direction to your life.
• You might start feeling hopeless. You remember when you were so passionate about having a singing career but now it just seems like any other job, just hard work with little sense of achievement or reward.
• You might be feeling like you are the lone ranger and worthless.

3. Knowing why you do what you do is of paramount importance in getting unstuck. That helps you rediscover your purpose which in turn, drives your ambition to do something worthwhile.

• What does success mean to you honestly? Do you have to do, be or accomplish a particular thing before you consider yourself a success?
• What is your contribution to the community, world and your life?
• When you find your true purpose, can you articulate it both to yourself and others at the drop of a hat? Get good at this for sure.
• How much do you trust yourself?
• Do you hold yourself accountable for your reactions, inaction or your actions?
• What purpose inspires you? Maybe you want to move in a different direction and that’s OK.
• Who might you include on your support team that can help you when you need it?
• How might you work more effectively when getting things and projects done?
• Do you know how to make great choices and decisions just for you? And do you make your decisions stick?
• When working on your career, can you think outside the box and do the necessary brainstorming either by yourself using mind mapping or with others of like mind?

Whether you are wrestling with a big new idea, feeling at a dead end or trying to move through a major change in your life, whether it is career related or not, every moment of being stuck is a lost opportunity for you and helps create your very own “crazy making” which is not helpful. So, the more you use these tools to get yourself unstuck, the better you get at recognizing the symptoms and making the necessary adjustments before the situation becomes acute.

"Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional." - Kathleen Casey Theisen

This is a great time to start this process so as the New Year, 2013 shows up, you are ready for the challenge ahead of you and have some tools and ideas to help keep you on a productive path. Everyone has ups and downs in their lives. What is important about them is what you “choose” to do with them. You are in charge you know! And you are not alone!

Avanti and ciao until next time. Carol
PS. I’d love to know what you think so let me hear from you - keep your questions, info and thoughts coming my way. You always inspire me. Happy Holidays!