Effortless Mastery was one of a handful of very important puzzle pieces in my life. I have done a lot of self-education (not self-help, but self-learning..;) Where we’ve meditated, found “answers” or things that could help, and do very much help – and Kenny’s musical aproach was the final thing I needed, to KNOW this was very healthy for my whole being, and just (if not more) as important as practicing my instrument. (I’m a classical singer, currently taking a master in Contemporary music) Feeling whole, happy and healthy/growing is the most important thing to me now, not whether or not I will have sucsess, or whether or not I’m a perfect enough singer. But, as Kenny says: these things kinda come as a bonus when you stop bugging yourself with those tormenting thoughts.

I love that you help eachother with some doubts that can come from religious or cultural backgrounds, it’s moving. I grew up in a small town, where everybody is made worthless, and your personality is shut down in the early years because you can’t stand out or else the tiger will eat you…that’s off course not true, but you get what I’m saying. I was working on the worth (and still am) issue for a long time – and during my first “I am Great”-meditation I had tears flowing down my cheeks, effortlessly, a quiet and beautiful reunion with that child that had to hide who she was and live by the rule: I am nothing. She could not belive that this change had arrived, that she was now not just worth something, but she was absolutally necessary for me to be whole and feel good about myself. I love her!

My experience with affirmations are: when they seem absurd and really untrue, that’s when they can be very powerful. Things you already know/feel are true aren’t that powerful. So the fact that the “I am Great” feels conflicting with something is a super thing! Because then you have found a conflict inside yourself, and just the fact that you notice that it is there is a great step! Conflicts only exists inside (in my opinion)and I find it useful to ask myself (about anything): does it help me to believe this? Is it fruitful/effective to think like this? And if not, I find the currage to change it, and stick with changing it for some time until I see results/fruit of my change in thought/mood in real life. Sometimes this work goes in shifts over many years, but it still works.
Just like Kenny’s “I play effortlessly”, it’s more and more true every day. A true blessing. I’m not saying it is wrong to belive that God is the master, that is a great affirmation too, I just find it very exiting to remember that: it is just thoughts, they can be changed and still there you stand, no lightning was struck. I think we sometimes give words too much respect in an unhealthy way, it’s nice to play with them sometimes, see what happens. Try things that are “not true”, what does that do to me? really? just to say them to myself, think them. It’s just words, thoughts. Not rock. Which is probably also why thoughts can be so much powerful than rocks… Now…. I’m just playing here… I’ll stop now…:)
Thank you all for all the wonderful words and thoughts you have shared.
Kjersti K.

Lionel

Same idea just different words.
Seems to me.

What I want to know is how do you deal with the situation of playing with other musicians who are playing wrong changes or form when you are trying to create a solo or play a head? So many times I can get derailed by what is going on around me. It makes what I am playing at the moment sound messy. Even though yes, everything I play is great , how do you recover? If that is explained in the book, I missed it. Thank you.

Rick

Peace All, and thank you Kenny. You, most definitely “are”!

Tim
-iii<

I would only add to the blog that effortless mastery can help us accomplish so much by focussing on just a little. One very special day at a time. Even if it’s only for five minutes! (Hmm where did I get that idea). Case in point. Last week I spent time just playing as few notes as possible in a difficult scale only to accomplish the whole scale with great ease.

I approach practice now without fear, without anxiety and without any expectation other than to realize the greatness of what playing music can do for me and as my gift to others.

Ken you and your work have consistently helped me on my journey. May our paths cross again soon. Chris