Your music is NOT trash
My music is trash.
At least, that's probably something you've thought before.
First, don't be so hard on yourself. Your music is never as bad as you think! It might actually be quite good, if not totally excellent.
It's extremely common for creatives to be their biggest critic. Quite often it keeps us from creating.
So how do we deal with those inner thoughts? How do we avoid stagnation due to a lack of faith in ourselves?
There really isn't one simple solution or exercise or revelation that will fix everything. It's a constant battle for many musicians.
That said, there are definitely some concrete things you can do to remain confident in your sound.
The first two are all about mindset.
Mindful meditation
You are not where you've been and not where you will be. You have the present moment, and you're always improving. Not everything you write will be brilliant, but it will always be important.
Writing music is a process that changes every time you do it. Accepting where you are and embracing the process will help you get through any doubt or frustration that will come your way.
Spend as much or as little time as you can in a safe, quiet space and let your thoughts pass through your mind. Watch them without judging them, and know that everything you do is bringing you to the next step. Nothing is a waste of time.
Evaluating criticism
Perhaps more often than we realize, the criticism we hear in our own heads isn't our own. It's important, regardless of what level you're at, to understand what the criticism means and where it comes from.
Not everyone will be a voice of authority, so a lot of what we hear about our music isn't from an enlightened perspective. No matter what you hear, always contextualize it in terms of who is saying it.
For example, your accounting friend may say your music isn't what they would listen to. Take it to a professional producer or engineer, and they may say it has potential. In either case, you know that you're making an impact, but the latter is more helpful.
The second two are real, tangible exercises you can do at any time.
Positive affirmations
Vocalizing positivity toward yourself can make an incredible difference. I am creative. People want to see me thrive. My music is growing, just like I am. No-one can create like I do. My art is important.
Write down 10-20 affirmations and read them out loud when you need some inspiration.
No pressure writing exercises
Sometimes you'll feel uninspired or at a loss for words. That's okay! Quite often we have things we need to process, and writing music may not be how we do it.
I find letting the words flow through me with no expectations to be an excellent release of tension. Even if you don't write a song, your words can be rewritten into one. It's important to get them out either way.
Choose a topic that is important to you. Then, spend at least 10 minutes writing whatever comes to mind. You'll likely uncover what is holding you back.
It's important to understand why you write music. Your relationship with your craft will always be a source of strength. No amount of criticism can stop you if you create because you want to.
Everything you hear, even some of your own thoughts, are simply opinions based on a limited example of your potential.
So keep writing, keep creating, and you'll see how powerful you truly are.
It isn't easy, so I've got one more thing that could help...
Forever Current's Songwriting with Purpose journal takes you through every part of the songwriting process, giving you helpful tools and advice from professional songwriters along the way. It will help you decimate your writer's block and guide you toward your greatest creations.
Let us know you want one!
https://www.songwritingjournal.com/
And don't forget: Forever Current is here with you.
Have a great week!