VLOG 45: Positivity is the Most Powerful Mindset for Musicians

heymattsokol (68)in #motivation • 7 years ago

Positivity isn't just the most effective way to live life, it also feels the best. When you act from a place of creating positive change in the world, and when that becomes the core of what you, it leaves no room for bullshit.

A lot of musicians spend a lot of time making excuses and insulting other bands - "That band sucks, why do they get so many fans?" - which isn't particularly useful and it doesn't feel good to do.

I think making positivity the core principle of your music career is a great way to enjoy yourself and have a good impact on the people around you.

What obstacles do you face that make it hard to maintain a positive outlook?

#music #entertainment #philosophy #video

7 years ago in #motivation by heymattsokol (68)

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dimitrij (57) 7 years ago

great post, and a really good topic.. made me think a lot..
I think that the only way to enjoy something is to really try to understand it and - in a way - give it a chance. It isn't only in music. I figured that in visual arts, when I was truly against concept and let's say "non-mimetic" art, and after some time I started reading and learning about some of the work that couldn't reach me. And all of a sudden a whole world opened up to me and started speaking and creating new ideas and new images. That's how value is made! And I'll be happy because of that for the rest of my life, I'm sure.
The positivity mindset is a real big part of my life and maintaining it one of the biggest problems I personally have, so this whole flow made me think a lot.

I function best in music when I'm in search of - or already in -" beauty". Finding the sweetspot where the whole thing starts to resonate with me and make me take it further in my mind without even trying. Is it playing with someone and just being emerged in the feeling, or producing someones song and having vivid images while listening the song. That feeling never comes when you're not relaxed and open. I think that's the whole point of the process of making art. I think you touched the topic when talking about self-awareness while practicing.

Personally, the thing that often dislocates me from "the zone" is mostly SELF-DOUBT. Which can be a really good catalyst for the overall art path, but not if it blocks the process. Which is an extremely irrational feeling if you're allowing the external factors or people to influence your own personal hand-script. Or at least if you feel like that's happening. It's a horrible thing when you start doubting the whole thing in almost every aspect because of someones words. It's also stupid :D
I don't know.. I figured that I don't like giving criticism without having (at least) an idea of a solution to the thing that is bothering me. Maybe I don't like giving criticism because I'm having a hard time getting some. I mean, the criticism isn't the problem, the biggest problem is when I start projecting the "worst case scenario" as a product of that criticism. That's when I get so anxious and afraid I guess that I honestly can't make anything of value to me. That's personally my hardest time to keep a positive state of mind.
I know this is a question of own weakness I guess, and self - doubt, but (now I will sound like someone who's making excuses and blaming other people) the thing that bugs me the most is the fact that people tend to give criticism and their "opinion" without even considering the possible outcome or often without understanding the matter completely. It's much easier that way, and bullshit-no-productive rants are often mistaken for firm opinions. On the other hand, a positivistic attitude is often perceived by some people as a phony / suck-up stuff, which then makes me feel bad because that wasn't the point. I guess that's my weakness, I love loving shit and I love when other people love shit, and mostly I love being loved :D.Maybe that's the problem, I have a hard time not being loved. Which is really a deeper issue I guess ;)
Anyways, sorry for the long post, and thank you for making me rant this out.

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heymattsokol (68) 7 years ago

Dude! Sorry I didn't see this before now.

There's as ton of stuff there, so I'm gonna focus in on one specific element to respond to: The idea of being able to handle criticism with grace.

It's really hard to take criticism. The most effective critiques will generally challenge us in ways we did not anticipate or desire, and the natural emotional reaction is to withdraw from it and get angry/annoyed. In art it is even harder with the subjectivity of everything.

I think its SUPER VALUABLE to find a few people who you can really trust to give you honest feedback. @emelanson and I have worked SUPER HARD to make this the way we operate in our band The Walding Family. It isn't natural to give your honest opinion - which may amount to "Yeah, I don't like this beat at all - we should scrap it". But if you can't say your real opinion early on, it can lead to huge amounts of resentment down the line.

I think as soon as a band isn't able to be honest within itself, it is doomed.

Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts, it's really valuable to see how other people see this stuff. You are not only helping me, but all of us musicians on Steem by sharing your thoughts. Thanks dude!

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