LTU: Moving forward

[Shannon]

May I suggest something that works well for me?

I tend to work round robin on things because it allows me to prevent myself from burning out, getting bored, overthinking things and so forth.

Try this.  Do the first stage of a song.  Then, put it down, and do the first stage of another song.  Put that one down and keep creating the first stage of a new song until you feel like you have enough different songs started that you can work round robin in a flow that never allows any one song to become too much the focus, but allows you to work almost continuously without ever burning out or getting bored, tired, frustrated, etc.  Then do one stage on each song and move on again. I recommend you have an upper limit of 9 things.  Some people do fine with as few as three or four.  

If this works for you like it works for me, you'll probably find yourself much more productive, with a slower per-item completion rate but much improved ability to work on each thing successfully.

[mat422]

It's funny you recommend that way of working because that seems to be what I naturally gravitate towards. Within the past few years I actually stopped doing that and told myself I couldn't start anything new until I finished the current project I was working on. I thought it would have taught me to be more disciplined and focused, but I just ended up burning out on one song. 

I'll definitely be giving this a shot. I know my mind doesn't like to be focused on one thing for too long. In general I've always felt that my brain works in a more non-linear fashion and it's been a struggle figuring out what works for me. Thanks for the advice!

[mat422]

My job has just been never-ending issues these past two weeks. I'm starting to see how I've burned myself out trying to tackle it all, but realistically I can only do so much. I think what really gets to me is I'm both help desk and I also work on these mini projects that require focus. But what happens is it's quiet, I'm focusing on the project, an email issue pops up and I get distracted, come back to the project and another issue shows up a minute later. It's like a back and forth with my focus being interruped. Completely breaks my flow on what I'm working on and if I really didnt feel like doing it in the first place it's like starting from zero to summon the motivation to get into it.

Also I'm getting annoyed with the whole misconception that people who work in IT know the ins and outs of every program/computer in existence. Or when a problem pops up I'm expected to fix it immediately, like I know exactly what the issue is at all times. I used to feel really bad about that, like I was a failure. But I've stopped caring, I don't care if people perceive me as knowledgeable or an idiot, I just do my job.

Getting up in the morning still seems tough. But when I think about the soul crushing depression I used to feel, it's definitely improved.

I've limited binging TV shows. I'll watch one episode of a show that I really like and then move on to my music. It's really easy to just say screw it and watch TV until the day is over as a way to avoid doing things I fear on some level. I don't always have the energy when I come home, but most days I'm able to work towards my goals in some way. Definitely less procrastinating going on.

So far in my life I've had 3 separate people tell me they think I can definitely make music my full time thing. Again with the thing where people see something I don't. But I'm taking it as a sign that my internal reality is manifesting on the outside. I still don't care for my music all that much or have confidence in it. It's not that I hate it or beat myself up about it, it just feels like it's incomplete or not ready yet.

[Shannon]

You only have the limits you set. And your music should always be the expression of your love for music. That's when you stop caring what others think, and just create. And surrendering to your creativity is what makes others enjoy it.

[mat422]

I've been working on hammering that into my mind. I guess there's a lot of habits built up from the years of sitting down to work on something and caring too much what others will think about it. Which kind of makes sense because I grew up with that mentality about everything in my life. I've had to sort of redefine my whole mindset for how I approach writing now. It's been slow moving, but I'm seeing progress in my creative decisions to fulfill my inner desires vs seeking validation.

[Shannon]

Here's something that might help.

Set aside one project at a time that you are doing for yourself, with no intention to release it. Whenever you work on that project specifically, give yourself permission to fully indulge in just enjoying the creative process, experience and flow. Since it will never be released, there is no reason to worry that it might not be good enough for someone else. Completely un-limit and dis-inhibit yourself while you just enjoy creating for the sake of creating.

Each time you finish those projects, start a new one. And in the mean time, try to work on applying that to those projects you do want to release.

[mat422]

Thanks Shannon, I'll give that a go. I can see this benefitting me greatly because I really haven't been taking the time to just explore the process and enjoy like I should be.

[mat422]

Definitely experiencing frustration. It's like the metaphorical jail cell door is wide open and yet I can't step outside. It's like c'mon go already. My biggest issue is I keep listening to this fear. It keeps manifesting as reasons why I need more time or how it's just not that easy to be what I want to be. Going back to what Shannon said about the whole fear thing and taking responsibility for everything. Maybe my mind still can't grasp this concept that I have unlimited freedom yet. It says yeah but things aren't that straightforward. Maybe that's what holds me back, thinking there's deeper and deeper layers to this and complexity. Then again that just seems to be a rationalization by the fearful part of me.

[mat422]

I'm still having a lot of fear about the future. I'm still visualizing my goals along with security, but I guess I have doubts that it can happen. I won't let those doubts stop me, but they are a bit of a trap at times when I come into contact with people that are limited in their own ways. It's not always easy ignoring the well meaning advice of other people. Here I am striving for a goal that most people around me don't think is really all that feasible. All I really have to go on is belief in myself and the dedication to move forward, but besides that it's hard to hold onto this at times when I don't see the progress in my own life.

It's always the same crap flooding my head. How are you going to afford rent? Health insurance? What skills do you have to make enough money to stay afloat and not drown in poverty? You shouldn't go down this path, you're going to end up broke. Look for something that gives you stability. Go back to college and get another degree. Blah blah blah. I hate these thoughts because they are all based in fear. If you look at those, where at any point do I consider my own happiness? All I was ever told growing up was to find a good job that takes care of me. Always that security first, happiness second thing. But not security in doing something that makes me happy. Rather security by any means necessary and then squeezing in the real happiness on the side. I can't live like that anymore.

[Shannon]

One of the biggest keys to successful manifestation is to choose a goal, and then focus on that goal, and let (your subconscious, the universe, whatever) figure out how to get from Point A to Point C.  That is why we say, "set it and forget it".  

At this point, you might try an exercise I have been having a good time with lately (if you haven't already been doing it):

I am grateful for having all of the security I want and need in all forms and in all ways.  I am grateful for having all of the happiness I want and need, in all forms and in all ways.  I am grateful that I have it all.  I am grateful that I live the life that makes me happiest and most secure all the time.

But you can't just say these things; you have to generate and genuinely experience gratitude for them.  Which requires you to create those things in your imagination and then focus into them completely with gratitude for them.  That will attune your vibration to that reality, and cause it to be what dominates.

I am finding that genuine gratitude is a GREAT way to disrupt negativity and fear.

[EvolvingPhoenix]

I should be taking notes.

[mat422]

Thanks Shannon, I'll definitely be trying this out. It seems like my biggest stumbling point with setting goals and visualization is having that set and forget mentality behind it. It's more like trying for me or seeing it as a goal in the distance. That mentality of "one day", but it seems the problem is if I don't focus on having it now my subconscious will create exactly that. A thing far off in the distance but never "here". The gratitude seems like it will work very well for me for two reasons. 1. Its gratitude which is amazing, manifestation or not, just being thankful for things raises my mood significantly. 2. Being in gratitude means I already have it, so this further reinforces the state of these goals already being in existence for me or achieved in some way.

[Greenduck]

Thanks Shannon, I'll definitely be trying this out. It seems like my biggest stumbling point with setting goals and visualization is having that set and forget mentality behind it. It's more like trying for me or seeing it as a goal in the distance. That mentality of "one day", but it seems the problem is if I don't focus on having it now my subconscious will create exactly that. A thing far off in the distance but never "here". The gratitude seems like it will work very well for me for two reasons. 1. Its gratitude which is amazing, manifestation or not, just being thankful for things raises my mood significantly. 2. Being in gratitude means I already have it, so this further reinforces the state of these goals already being in existence for me or achieved in some way.

I’m practising root chakra meditation as an open root chakra allow you to be present in the now, I.e. fully embodied your body. I have an easier time placing myself in different visualizations and feeling a connection to the present moment, maybe you have had the same issue. Root chakra gets blocked by fear anxiety and worry.

[mat422]

What meditations are you doing? I used to do chakra meditations, but never saw much benefit. Felt like imaginary stuff I was doing vs actual energy work.