“Sometimes you want to give up the guitar, you’ll hate the guitar. But if you stick with it, you’re gonna be rewarded.” Jimi Hendrix
True confessions, I have wanted to learn the guitar for years, but have never even plucked a string. As a teenager, I’d sit in my rocking chair in my bedroom and picture myself as a singer/songwriter (aka Joni Mitchell, Carol King or James Taylor) sharing my teenage angst with the world. I enjoyed singing in choirs as a kid and could carry a tune, but my only other foray into learning an instrument was the violin. I practiced my violin in the living room; I assume for others to enjoy (endure) the sound. Much to the relief of my family, after six months I quit.
When Covid-19 initially hit our country, I spent more time at home and realized what a great opportunity I had to fulfill my childhood dream. I found a guitar, signed up for beginner on-line guitar lessons and began. I was diligent, I practiced, I was excited, I could do each lesson in one take until… I couldn’t. The instructor sped up the beat and when she said, “It’s time to play along with the band”, I felt myself getting sweaty palms and my heart racing. “What?” I thought to myself, “Unfair! Doesn’t she know that I’m a beginner?”
That’s when I had to remind myself that I’m the learner not the expert.
As Carol Dweck Ph.D. writes in her book, Mindset, The New Psychology of Success,
“Just because some people can do something with little or no training, it doesn’t mean that others can’t do it (and sometimes even better) with training.”
Trying anything new can initially be fun, exciting, engaging and the learning process rewarding. But, with anything new that you work hard at, you may come up to a wall where, like me, you find the growth more challenging.
Here are some ideas for you to engage in new challenges with a learner mindset:
Change your Self-Talk
Take the phrase, “too hard” out of your vocabulary. It sounds finite and fixed. Instead, you can tell yourself, “This is challenging, but I thrive on challenge.” You are a problem-solver and a challenge is simply something to be figured out.
Have a Sense of Humor
Enjoy the process of learning and try to laugh at your mistakes. Mistakes that you learn from is success.
Show Compassion to Yourself
How much compassion do you show others when they try something new? Do you encourage them at each step and challenge they overcome? Do that for yourself.
Celebrate Your Growth
Every so often take some time to review where you started at the beginning of your journey compared to where you are now. This is particularly helpful to do when you have hit something extra challenging in your learning.
Try something new, be a learner, embrace the challenges, and enjoy the journey!
What’s something new you want to learn?
Interested in coaching that will help you lead, achieve, and inspire? Contact Carol now for a complimentary 20-minute session.
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