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MY⚡️Feature
featured piece of advice for creatives and creative leaders
FEEL THE RHYTHM
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!
In a blog last week I shared a quote from Joseph Awuah-Darko. He said this regarding the new year…
“2024 is a mindset, not just a calendar shift… remember that.”
You see, a new year is just a calendar shift unless you make it more than that. However, I also know that the changes that we hope to make in this new year can be overwhelming. Maybe you woke up this morning filled with energy to start a new habit or a new schedule. Maybe you woke up this morning with plans to start your new routine or practice tomorrow since it’s a holiday. Or maybe you woke up having partied a little to hard last night and you just want to sleep!
No matter how this MY⚡️FI MONDAY finds you I want to help you with one bit of advice that I think can help you with the hopes you have for your new habits, new schedules, or anything new that you want to accomplish this year.
It’s one simple thing…
Think rhythms not just resolutions
A resolution is usually a massive shift in a behavior or a habit that we’ve been walking in for long time. Sometimes we’ve been doing this thing we want to change for years and it’s ingrained in us like a deep rut in a muddy road that we just can’t get out of.
We’ve tried things before and potentially had a bit of success only to fall right back into that habit we want to change. Maybe you want to eat healthier, read more, or exercise more, but just can’t seem to make it stick. You have to know the difference between a resolution and a rhythm.
A resolution is a decision. A rhythm is a lifestyle change.
A resolution is a goal. A rhythm is a practice to get you there.
It’s incredibly difficult to wake up one morning and decide that the way that you have eaten for years is going to change. It’s doable, but not for most of us. It lasts a few days and we fall back into the same old habits. It’s hard to go from doing nothing creatively to writing a song a day. It’s hard to go from sitting on the couch to exercising every day. It’s hard to change our spending habits.
Most of the things that we want to change are hard for us to accomplish.
John Maxwell said it this way…
“Everything worthwhile is uphill.”
But, you can do it if you think in small rhythms instead of massive resolutions. Let me give you a few examples to encourage you. You actually can create something you can stick to and reach your goals this year.
If you want to read more… don’t focus on a goal of reading 50 books this year. Instill a rhythm of reading 20 minutes a day, 5 days a week.
If you want to write songs this year… don’t focus on a goal of writing 30 songs this year. Instill a rhythm of songwriting for 2 hours, 3 days a week.
If you want to lose weight build rhythms of exercise and dieting that challenge you, but aren’t extreme and you will reach your goals.
Whatever it is that you want it’s totally fine to set a goal and resolve to make a change, but if you don’t create rhythms of habits you’re less likely to stick with it.
Create rhythms that work within the responsibilities of your life.
As those rhythms become easier for you, increase them, change them, and use those rhythms to keep growing.
I believe that you can accomplish what you want to accomplish this year in your life and in your art. I work with creative people almost everyday as a coach to help them do this very thing. If you think creative coaching can help you then set up a free 30 minute call with me and find out what coaching is all about.
Also, I created a tool called the MY⚡️FI Creative Clarity Planner that works inside of Notion and it’s intended to help you get organized in your tasks, projects, habits, and ideas. It’s all free and I really believe it can help so check it out!
MY⚡️Follows
Jon Batiste
(@jonbatiste) is an incredibly talented musician and artist from New Orleans that has won multiple grammys and been a guest on records and/or performances by everyone from Lauren Daigle to Juvenile. He made one of my favorite albums of 2023 and is a spark in the music world right now.
George Sidiropoulos
(@disisjorj) is a brand strategist, social media guru, and content creator who posts incredible tips on social media practices, branding, workflow, and more. His content is inspiring and incredibly practical as well.
Event Ready
(@evntready) is a company based out of TN that provides live event services and creative consultation to help you plan and execute live events, organize and build teams, and create a vision for the things your team, organization, or business wants to accomplish.
MY⚡️Finds
cool stuff I found this week
Samples from Mars
I use samples everyday in my recording endeavors. Whether it’s for an artist, for tv/film, or for my own work I’m always looking for unique sounds and one-shots that I can use to create. I came across Samples from Mars and literally bought everything they had available. They specialize in the unique and useful and if you need great, fresh samples check them out!
Snapper
I was working in the studio with my friend Nick and I kept seeing him play audio files from the bottom of his finder window. It was really convenient and I asked him what it was… it’s an app called Snapper that not only makes previewing audio files incredibly easy it also has a load of other features and has a 100 day free trial!! Check it out!
MY⚡️Favorites
some of my favorite sights, sounds, and reads
Music City Bridge
MCB is a company based out of Nashville that makes these incredibly amazing triple string tree pieces for Fender style guitars that help with break angle and tuning stability. If you’re a guitarist and you have any Fender or Fender style guitars these things are a must have! BUY THEM HERE!
MY⚡️FI CREATIVE CLARITY PLANNER
I apologize for the bit of shameless self-promotion, but with it being the new year I know a lot of us are trying to get organized. I designed this planner template to work inside of Notion. It’s all free and if you watch the short video below I show you exactly how to use it! I think you’ll love it!
MY⚡️FI Podcast
a podcast about the journey of creativity
Ep. 041 :: My Favorite Albums of 2023
Join me as I share what albums I loved the most from 2023 and I know that a few are going to surprise you!! If you’re like me during the holidays you spend a lot of time in the car and I knew you would need a good, family friendly episode to listen to. I also wanted to make sure you knew about all these great records that I loved so ENJOY!!!
MY⚡️FI Blog
monthly blog for creatives and creative leaders
Is Something Holding You Back?
On the blog this month I share a little bit about some simple things that could be keeping you from winning in your creative career. You can also check out some past entries on the phases of creativity and the power of creative clarity. Check it out HERE and share the blog with a friend!