When was the last time you were really proud of yourself? I love the memory this brings to mind of an old-fashioned sepia tone photograph clipped from the back of a Curves magazine. The advertisement showed a little girl dressed-up in her mother’s evening gown and pumps, with a feather boa draped about her shoulders and trailing behind her. She wore it proudly in her play of pretending.
I have this exact feeling when I practice my violin and find myself enrapt in the music, in another world ~ where music is the only language and I speak it fluently.
Boho [Fr.]
/ˈbōˌhō/bo-Ho
a free-spirited group of people; gypsies who travel Bohemia. Nomads; homeless; simple living; marked by frugality. Artistic; musical; carefree; community living. Rejecting constraints of mainstream society, money, and societal woke-ism.
These are the writings of a non-conformist. I follow a lifestyle that is unconventional, creative, musical, and hold critical views of both the political and societal constructs. I dare to follow the God of my understanding. By the way, I {try to} avoid compromise.
Being able to play music is a Gift. The connection of sounds flowing together create many human emotions - for the musician and the listener. To me, it is Living.
Being able to share music is an Act of Vulnerability. the musician initiates to be seen fully in the present moment - without shield, without mask, without cloak. To me, it is the essence of Becoming Real.
Being able to create music in a group is an extraordinary experience. The layering of sounds, intertwining of notes played at exactly the right moment, the resonance of different instruments, all following one rhythm with the surging of emotions from united hearts. To me, this is Daring to Come Alive.
On my music stand is the sheet music ‘The Gael’ ~ a song made popular by the movie The Last of the Mohicans. This song is my latest project to master with violin and bow.
My approach in returning to music after 40 years can be described as dipping my toe into the ocean, turning around, and running away to dissolve into a pool of tears. I found that if I wanted to walk into that ocean, I needed to become real, to feel the hard things, face my fears, own my past, forgive the unforgiveness, and proceed forward ~ wild & free.
So I needed some lanterns to find my way.
I am out with lanterns looking for myself.
~ Emily Dickenson
When I realized I must grow and become the person I saw the culmination of - I needed a process that would keep me walking consistently on the same path. It is partly a spiritual journey and partly a companionship journey with those who have gone before me who have traveled the way successfully.
These are the people I call my Lanterns.
Nicola Smith, {DRT} Dressage Rider Training, NZ1
Become Immune to Negativity & Get More Focus
Show gratitude for where you are right now
Set goals about what you want to achieve + action steps
Understand only you are in control of what you want to achieve
Surround yourself with people who support your vision
Remind yourself daily of your goals and the path you are on
Get advice from people who can help you reach your goals
Continue to learn and grow
Become ridiculously passionate about what you love
Let go of the past, focus on the future and present
Stay positive and be the positive influence for others
Back yourself 100%
Repeat daily.
She had my heart when her email said she would like to paint a picture for me. Nicola painted the picture of two rooms - one with negative vibes and the other with positive vibes. Hang out in the negative room too long and all your dreams become unrealistic. Environments that we put ourselves can determine whether our goals will succeed or fail. We cannot avoid all negativity, but if we have a strong sense of purpose, if we know where we are headed, and work consistently on our mindset - a little negativity will bounce right off us, just like a body with a healthy immune system.
Charlie Unwin, author {Inside Out}, The 5 Mindset Strategies2
The Performance Mindset is five daily strategies that Unwin developed while training soldiers for warfare in the UK, Olympic competitors, and World Dressage Performance Competitors.
The 5 Mindset Strategies were implemented by my Dressage riding instructors.
Do you control your own performance, or does your performance control you?
In any high pressure situation there are two modes of being, those whose performance is controlled from the outside in, and those who control their performance from the inside out.
Using the five winning strategies has helped my Music, riding Dressage, and overcoming stressful situations in both life and business.
Strategy No. 1 WIN THE DAY.
Mentally what things do you need to do {today} to win the day.
Strategy No. 2 CREATE THE SPACE.
Mind space, work space, time space. For me - white space.
Strategy No. 3 RELAX INTO IT.
Set your Focus and Intent. Go enjoy.
Strategy No. 4 TRAIN THE FEEL.
Practice right. Absorb how it feels to do ‘it’ right.
Strategy No. 5 TRAIN THE NERVES.
By practicing and building muscle memory of right performance, when stress of performance comes - your anxiety can be redefined and managed as powerful excitement that carries you to the win.
Till we meet again.
Nicola Smith, DRT Dressage Rider Training, New Zealand
https://dressageridertraining.com
Charlie Unwin, performance psychologist, The 5 Winning Strategies
https://www.facebook.com/p/Charlie-Unwin-Equestrian-Psychology-Coach-100060215271720/