So, I've been trying to get back into playing music after a nearly 15 year absence. It's too long a story to explain but basically, I did not (originally) quit playing due to social anxiety, though I have always been a very shy person and had a lot of stage fright before playing, but faced it somehow in the past.
I played a gig last September with some friends and told them I wanted to have some songs written before we practiced again. I haven't written anything since. Though I have been working at it.
I feel like the music is coming along, getting to more my liking-- the lyrics, (as always) are trickier.
It's not that I feel incompetent as a writer (not to sound big headed) but I've known I could write for a long time. (I really spend an obsessive amount of time on it, it should be half-way decent ) My issue with the lyrics is, how I feel about my feelings-especially the "dark" feelings. I feel a lot of shame over feeling how I feel. I try to tell myself that a natural reaction to feeling depressed is to write depressed lyrics, a reasonable song to write when your sad, is a sad song. Well duh.
I heard Paul Simon say that "you just have to get the words to where you're comfortable singing them"
I guess I'm just not there yet.
Anyway, anyway
I promised my therapist that I would make it to an open-mic this week, just to open my ears to the musical air. I found something that I think I'd like--it's actually a full performance, tonight (Saturday, which is always more people and more anxiety for me) but it stands out from all the other options I have this week. So, I'll got to find a way to get my body out of my car and into that bar this evening. Wish me luck!
You need confidence in yourself and a love and high expectations knowing you will move on and become what you wish to be. Initially work within your limits and have positive expectations of your talents.
I am very much like you I had problems with my memory and I stopped attending meetings and think tanks. I had stopped three years ago and only last week I began to attend one of the meetings I used to attend once more, I began to get my confidence back, yes I was out of touch, I had to listen and walk the walk to become more proficient and understand what was expected of me. However The Meeting went according to plan and I am fast looking forward to be able to talk to the group and relight my expectations.
Be brave if you want something so much you will eventually move on with confidence and achieve once more
Keep a Hold, I expect an autograph when you become famous
BOB
• in reply to
Haha
That's just it- wanting something so much--
Sometimes, I just think it comes down to the greater fear winning:
Fear of what other people think < fear of not going after what I want
• in reply to
I used to take various lectures and in the early days I was scared stiff, you need to remember people in an audience expect you to be the expert, they have a love of music.
You are their teacher and you are there to allow them to appreciate your Music. Yes audiences are there to listen, relax and enjoy, they want to hear your music or they would not be attending.
If you are writing music you are expressing your life and its expectations, it is wonderful to be paid ?, When you tell a story
Keep a hold, move on and express yourself with your music, ENJOY
BOB
• in reply to
Thank you for the encouraging words. I'll try to remember this.
Haha hope so!!
Best of luck to you. Sounds like you are indeed making progress, way to go.
Maybe in the future. I have various little phobias . Lol. One of them is just accepting my own words as lyrics again. ( I used to write my own stuff, though I was always singing fast or sloppily so they were purposely distorted. My bandmate would intentionally turn my monitor way down so I had to sing louder. Sneaky guy. )
Even just recording yourself so not you but 3rd party can objectively listen etc... I get nasty phobias that can hold us back I got those. I was just wondering if you heard yourself thru a trusted persons ear it may reassure u at least or just give u a confidence boost.... 🌷😊
Thank you. I have a person in my mind to share with once I get a song together. He helped me in the past. He's kind of known around here as being super approachable for musicians. So Im really fortunate in that.
Thank you for asking! Actually, I went to see a band on a Saturday night by myself. That was stressful enough lol at this point anyway. I've been chipping away my anxiety by practicing at home and attending musical events. I've been also working to build self-worth, in general- which I think will support the whole endeavor. Or, at least I hope so.
Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.
Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.
) My issue with the lyrics is, how I feel about my feelings-especially the "dark" feelings. I feel a lot of shame over feeling how I feel. I try to tell myself that a natural reaction to feeling depressed is to write depressed lyrics, a reasonable song to write when your sad, is a sad song. Well duh. 
Idk
🎼Need some song lyrics!🎼
A message from my ex
New to the group
