Create and Achieve your Vision, part 4: The When and Where
First, we defined the what, then, the why. After that, we looked at the how, and that defined almost everything for us. Now, we just need to make the time and space to execute our plan, and we will achieve our vision.
This sounds easy, and it would be in a world less congested, noisy and stressful than the one we live in. We have responsibilities with our family, friend and community. We have jobs and maintain a home. The technology that's supposed to assist us more often than not becomes an addictive distraction, bombarding us with notifications that demand our attention 24/7. It's challenging to catch a breath and have time for ourselves.
Despite all this, it's possible to make time and space for our vision by working smarter, not harder. Don't sacrifice sleep or overexert yourself, that will only lead to health issues and burnout. Instead, keep your priorities at the forefront of your mind, and use them to take decisions. You are the owner of your attention, your energy and your time. There's nothing to be ashamed of about saying no to new commitments, delegating, or leaning on our network. Doing so allows us room to focus on what is important for us, and also to grow, which has a positive impact on our relationships and the people who support us.
Conditions won't ever be perfect or ideal. Let's say that you want to learn how to play a new instrument within a year. Your research points at you needing three daily hours of practice to become a good player in that timeframe, but all you can fit in your schedule are thirty minutes twice a week. If you just wait to see if things magically change so you can practice for three hours a day, what will most likely happen is that your new instrument will sit in the closet the entire year. On the contrary, if you go ahead and consistently use those thirty minutes twice a week to learn, by the end of the year you will have more than fifty hours of practice under your belt, and you will be able to play your new instrument to a decent extent. It makes a difference!
You must remember that time keeps moving forward with no regard for what you do. If something will take you five years and that feels like too much, think that those five years are going to pass anyway, so you might as well do what you want to do in that time. Besides, when you don't decide what to do with your time, companies like social media platforms, which profit from your attention, take the decision for you. It makes no sense to postpone a goal because "you don't have enough time", just to use the time you do have mindlessly scrolling down Facebook or Instagram. It's better if you turn notifications off, and only check your phone after having dedicated time to the goals and things that really matter to you.
In addition to the time, we must consider the space to work on our goals, which isn't always a given. Maybe your neighbours make a big deal out of noise and don't let you practise in peace, even if you're entitled to play your instrument at home. Perhaps you live in a small town with no venues or gig opportunities. Such issues sound hard to circumvent, but there are temporary solutions and alternatives to almost everything. If you can't find them by yourself, you can always ask for help.
Last time, I mentioned that I will open slots for individual coaching very soon. The objective of this coaching opportunity is to help you make your music plan, making sure it is focused, concrete and doable. There will only be three spots available, and sign-ups start in September! Be sure to join the mailing list, so you don't miss this chance.