This past week, I was given a prompt to write a song that communicates something true that I’ve felt I’ve needed to hide. I came up with the little ditty embedded below: “Go For It!” It’s a pep talk of sorts that reminds me of the trope of an angel and a devil sitting on someone’s shoulders and each giving their unsolicited two cents. Writing this song felt like the emotional equivalent of solving a rubik’s cube. Something clicked into place in a satisfying way. The song put a just-right distance between me and my inner monologue, allowing me to examine and shift the script.
Like most humans, I often set goals for myself and then get mired in a web of self-sabotage in the pursuit. Sneaky self-sabotage! Self-sabotage that I don’t even label as such in the moment because it is so unassuming. The War of Art by Steven Pressfield is a great book I read years ago that dealt really well with the topic. In the book, Pressfield breaks down how every day we have things we really know we should be doing, especially when it comes to artistic pursuits. He posits that we all face Resistance to getting these thing done. He tells us Resistance is the enemy we must defeat (That’s the war part)!! So we battle daily with Resistance and we either win or lose.
Whether you want to call it Resistance or Self-Sabotage, I’ve been feeling it lately! Lately as in, the last year or so?? I’ve been making progress, sure, but in my heart of hearts, I know I’ve also been a bit lazy, a bit standoffish when it comes to sitting down and putting in the creative work time. I’ve got all the excuses in the book: new career path, cats to feed, dishes to wash… I’ve even got all the progress that has been made to make myself feel better and justify my lack of discipline! But still, this song that I wrote was a reminder that I could use a little extra push, a little tough love and a little bit of messy action. It’s time to stop being so precious about everything and get my hands dirty!
Maybe you have an area in your life where you can relate? So here’s a little pep talk for me and for you: Break out of complacency! I’m not special, you’re not special, nobody is special, really. So so stop getting all wrapped up in the internal dramas and just get on with it! Get on with whatever you’re supposed to be doing. Figure out what your gift is and give it away without making such a big deal about it.
Please send your motivational book/podcast recs and fire-up playlists my way. I’m rolling up my sleeves over here! And if you listen to the song, let me know what you think! <3
"just get on with it!" love this as the core message, definitely relate and really cool to see that channeled into your song Blythe!
The struggle of making yourself start on the creative work is so real! I think it stems from the innate fear that as soon as we sit down to do the work it’s gonna materialize and maybe not be as good as we expected or had hoped for.
Regarding the demo: I like the dark chords and your voice is very soulful 🙃