This seems like the right week to think about what we—as musicians and as citizens—can do to make the world a better place. In times of trouble, story can work as cure.
We’ve got mind-boggling national and international events swirling around us. And the internet is blowing up with incendiary video clips and quotes. In these fractious times it can feel as though what we do as individuals—and especially what we do as musicians—doesn’t count for much of anything.
To help, I’ve got a counter-intuitive recommendation: storytelling.
I’m not talking about the fairy tales or fantasies we may indulge in from time to time. I’m talking about stories from our own past. And not the happy fun times either.
Think back to a time when you faced a major difficulty, professional or personal. It probably had you feeling anxious, even hopeless. Think over how you felt, what you thought and did in response, and what helped you to overcome the challenge.
Maybe it was a disappointment over an audition, a health scare, the loss of a loved one, or a financial hardship. These kinds of challenges can leave us feeling disoriented and disconnected—our lives may seem unfamiliar and our world unrecognizable.
Here’s the story that came to my mind. I’ve had a few stretches in my sordid past when I found myself “between jobs.” When I left the cello teaching job I had at SUNY Potsdam (this was more than 20 years ago), I really wasn’t sure what I’d do next or even where I’d go. It was a few years after I’d finished my doctorate, and my sense of identity back then was totally tied up with the job. So I felt disoriented, disconnected.
It’s something I’ve since seen in others. When our sense of purpose is missing it can leave us feeling like a stranger to ourselves.
The help I needed and got came in the form of a support network of people to whom I will be forever grateful. Part of what worked for me was having an internship with the New England Foundation for the Arts. Work—whether it’s paid or not—is one of the best antidotes to depression. The internship involved helping organize a conference on innovative community arts projects—artists doing meaningful work in partnership with community organizations.
The work got me re-connected to why I fell in love with the arts in the first place. It also got me considering for the first time the real function and purpose of the arts.
I did that internship for about 9 months before finding my next full time gig. During that time I discovered how much I needed a support network, and I learned that my self worth doesn’t depend on a job, and that the arts are for connecting people and creating community.
Fast forward to today and your story: take time this week to mine your past for your own hardship and redemption narrative. Don’t gloss over the difficulties. Remember back to the dark days and focus on how you regained your footing, what steps you took, and what you learned in the process.
If we each told our story, think of the positive energy and shared goodwill we might harness going forward! We can as a community reignite our sense of hope, our resilience, our sense of purpose, and move toward a cure.
The week: reflect on your story, share it with friends — it will help inspire others. And as always, I love getting your feedback, questions—and stories. I’m at Angela@BeyondTalentConsulting.com.
And if you’d like to work on a custom-tailored plan to improve your career trajectory, let’s set up a time to talk – reach me at Angela@BeyondTalentConsulting.com
Dream Big, Plan Smart, Live Well
