Attitude of Grattitude

What things are you grateful for in your life? Family, friends, where you live and work? Holiday time in the summer sun, or rugging up by the fire on a cold winter’s night? Eating amazing food, drinking a glass of something tasty, or reading a decent book?

This photo reminds me of springtime in Germany, when the canola fields were so bright and in full bloom. I would often see the massive squares of bright yellow out of the window of the train on my way to teach each week. It reminds me of how grateful I am of the time I spent there, and how much I learned about myself and about music in the process.

There are so many things in our lives that we can be grateful for on a daily basis, and fortunately we don’t need to think too hard to remind ourselves of them.

But have you also considered being grateful for the things in your life that cause you stress, anxiety, pain, or difficulty?

Whilst it is important to focus our attention on the positive and wonderful things in life as much as possible, it’s the times when we are struggling or finding things difficult where we can actually learn and grow the most.

One story that captures this idea so well is about the growth of an oak tree. We have plenty of oak trees down in Tasmania, with their timber being used a lot in building houses, making furniture, and for beautiful honey coloured floorboards.

So why is the Tasmanian oak so desirable for these kinds of uses?

Because of its strength, density, and resilience – the main reason why so many wooden houses are still standing despite the rough Tassie weather!

But how do these trees become so tall and strong in the first place?

It’s because of the wind.

The wind pushes the tree side to side, over and over, and year after year. Whilst initially this creates tiny tears and breaks in the fibres of the tree (just like what lifting weights at the gym does for our muscles), the tree works to repair these breaks, which in-turn strengthens the tree even more. A young sapling is much more flexible and is blown around easily by the wind. But the older, sturdier trees are so stable and resilient that almost no wind can break them.

If we can take this and apply it to performing, then we can actually embrace the pressure and become grateful for the times when we struggle on stage. The pressure you experience is just like the wind for the oak; it is there to strengthen you over time, despite causing a little bit of discomfort, pain, and anxiety in the short term. Without anything to push you out of your comfort zone, you will remain weak and far less resilient. But stepping out into what feels like hurricane-force winds that can be out there on stage will build you into a robust and commanding performer!

So be grateful for the struggle and difficulty that you feel under pressure. This idea might feel strange at first, but remember that if you are asking to become a stronger performer, then you are really asking for adversity, challenges, and also failure to come your way. Be grateful for the experience to learn and grow, and you will learn to tackle the challenge head-on, with nothing to lose, and everything to gain.