How to Find Happiness in a Pandemic Through Singing
Who gets happier in a lockdown?
Let’s face it; it’s been a long, bleak and crushing year for many. The pandemic is weighing heavily on all of us. What has happened to all of our coping strategies? Where is our fighting spirit?
During one early spring day, I lay in bed not feeling like getting up and realized I was focussing on a burdensome list of failures. I was not focussing on the good that I had accomplished.
I had let my guard down.
During all these months locked away from others, I began to see my goals as the only way of measuring my progress. The issue with that mentality is if you link your progress to your self-worth, then no progress also means no self esteem.
I began to think of my students’ frustrations with their own progress. I watched a student tackle a difficult song and become completely gutted when they could not reach the high note. They had only spent a few weeks on the song! They were discouraged because their self esteem was linked to their goal. If you fail to do something unrealistic in an impossible amount of time, you are ensuring discouragement and frustration.
Its important not to allow success in a task to determine your self-esteem. Instead, here are three tips for finding joy and happiness during challenging times:
1. When things are clear, it's easier to find joy.
Declutter your singing space, bedroom and living space. Being organized helps!
2. Have a good mindset.
Make some positive affirmations. Your brain is a magnificent organ that can either make or break you. It's not always easy to change your mindset, but with practise in your positive affirmations, you will find yourself looking more to the light.
3. Increase your chances of success by defining the specifics of your realistic goal.
A vague goal, like “get better at singing,” is hard to accomplish. Instead, refine your goal to memorize a new song, or to practise regularly three times a week.
As you start to come out of your pandemic lock down state, try to keep in mind these coping strategies and don’t get down on yourselves!
We have all have lost valuable time. We’ve been in a lockdown stupor. Some days and weeks have been dark. It doesn’t mean that tomorrow will be dark as well. The sun always rises.
Get in touch to spend some time on setting some vocal goals. Let’s evaluate a realistic plan together & help you gain confidence in your singing by learning new technique and new repertoire.
