Are you living your best life? The journey to becoming the person you desire could be within reach with a few tweaks. We think Self-Mastery is about creating better habits. By determining where you are now and learning how you can improve mentally, emotionally, physically and spiritually, your dream life can become a reality. Join us for the “tea” in this first episode of our series on Self-Mastery.
(Nia on her experience with developing a self-mastery practice. )
I began studying the violin 12 years ago. Around the fourth year, I started slacking off. It became difficult to motivate myself to practice and I began to lose interest. The work and effort the instrument required to achieve proficiency was of no interest to me. My mom made some not-so-subtle threats about not paying for anymore lessons or orchestra(s). I grudgingly continued to practice. Eventually the work started to pay off. I was able to take part in incredible solo opportunities and performances that I had never imagined.
By my junior year in high school, it was suggested that I consider taking my skills to the next level and apply to some of the most prestigious music school in the country. While I loved music, the idea didn’t excite me. It also made me question all of the time I had invested in the violin. If I didn’t go to music school, what was the point.
My mom reminded me that a career in music was never the point. Then I remembered. She had always said, “I don’t care if you don’t become a world-famous violin player. The point of you playing an instrument was never for you to become famous. It is about mastery. Once you have mastered something, you have a blueprint for repeating it in other areas of your life.”
And then I got it. Every time I practiced or had a lesson, prepared or performed– I was practicing the art of self-mastery. Looking back, I realize how much playing the violin helped me in other ways, too. It influences the way in which I approach challenges and projects. I understand how to break things down in a manner that is easier to understand and digest because that’s how you approach a new piece of music. I’m able to memorize speeches and presentations because I developed a memorization process for learning music for performances.
Self-mastery is a process and a journey. I’m still by no means a “master”. However, it becomes easier and easier with practice. I have also found that if I am successful in one area, the habits, behaviors, and the self-discipline trickle into other areas of my life.
We thought some tea-talk on self-mastery would not only allow us to reflect on our journey, a series of guest conversations would allow us all to grow. As I’m learning, personal expansion is a perpetual process.
So, join us today as we introduce Self-Mastery as our next series of on Real Talk. We think you’ll enjoy the guests and conversations we’ll be serving up!
In this episode, you’ll:
“You will never have a greater or lesser dominion than that over yourself…the height of a man’s success is gauged by his self-mastery; the depth of his failure by his self-abandonment.” -Leonardo da Vinci
Keep Expanding,
