Normalize Mistakes

Mistakes are information

If you're like me, you fear making mistakes.

"I'm not good enough" and "I'll never get it right" are the messages I often tell myself when I make mistakes.

In a healthy culture of practice, however, mistakes are normal. They are accepted, welcomed, and even expected.

Mistakes are signs telling you where you can learn and get better.

The trick is not to see mistakes as something about YOU as a person.

If you make mistakes during practice, it does NOT mean:
- you are a bad musician
- you are a bad person
- you are lazy
- you'll never get it right
- you'll never realize your dreams
NONE of these things is true.

What is true is that you're learning something new.

Musicians have challenges many people don't. The coordination between mind, brain, and body required for a learning musician is considerable.

AND!

Becoming and being a musician is a glorious challenge! It's not easy, and it's possible. In fact, if you're reading this, it shows that you're doing the things you need to do to be a musician. Therefore, you ARE a musician!

Everything worth doing takes:
- time
- effort
- patience

Becoming and being a musician is worth giving your valuable time, making your best effort, and developing the constantly helpful skill of patience.

If you're like me, you're making mistakes every day.

And if you're like me, you're making your dreams come true.

Keep going!