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Unmotivated? So you can release your blockage and get back to work
Would you like to write your own song, found a band or record an album? But do you fail - maybe even repeatedly - because of your musical project? Find out what is blocking you inside and how you can counter this blockage so that nothing stands in the way of your goal.
Do you know that?
You have a great idea, you are highly motivated to realize your idea - and then at some point suddenly it just doesn't go any further. The blockage is there and gradually the motivation also disappears. And with her all the beautiful dreams and ideas. It's frustrating, exhausting and just a shame - but it doesn't have to be.
Forget the motivational nonsense
Certainly we have all let motivation coaches make us believe that "you just have to get started". Discipline at all costs is a top priority in the motivation industry. You only have to give yourself the necessary "kick in the ass", and whoever doesn't do that is weak - and doesn't deserve any success anyway. Sorry, but that is nonsense. This attitude has more to do with the fact that such coaches think you have to walk over dead bodies to be successful. Don't let yourself be persuaded - there is another way.
Every blockage has its cause
If you notice that something is getting in the way of your goal, there can be a variety of reasons. First of all, it is important to find out what it is, so that you can then resolve it and move on. If you understand what is holding you inside and why, you don't have to struggle hard against yourself. Instead, you can ensure that the blockage is released sustainably and that you reach your goal with full strength. So let's take a look at what possible causes of your blockage could be.
Reasons for a blockage
In order to make the whole thing clear, we will look at different reasons for blockages below using various examples. Any blockage (writer's block, motivational block, creativity block) can appear on any level. The best thing to do is to read everything through and try to check your inner resistance for the cause.
First of all, let's imagine that you have decided to write your own lyrics. Again and again you made up your mind to sit down and just get started - and failed miserably. Either you sat dissatisfied in front of the white sheet of paper for what felt like forever (keyword: writer's block) - or you didn't even get around to devoting yourself to songwriting at all. Let's take a look at this example to see what the causes of the supposed failure could have been.
First possible reason: Circumstances do not allow you to work freely
One possible cause could be that you simply do not know exactly when you can accommodate your project in everyday life. In this case, you can schedule the songwriting in advance. Get an overview of your week and assign one or more fixed time windows to the songwriting. Try to split your goal into several small units instead of a one-off, several-hour session. This relieves you of the pressure of having to do everything at once - and may even solve writer's block. Take a look at our article on the artist routine.
Perhaps the problem is not of a temporal but rather of a spatial nature. Ask yourself where you can work, think, and write well. What kind of materials do you need for this? Do you need a tidy, tidy workplace to get into the creative flow? Or do you rather need an inspiring hodgepodge of photos, articles, book passages or music around you? Maybe the chaos tickles the good ideas out of you first? Design your place of work in such a way that your target activity is easy for you and you get into a flow. You can experiment a bit to find out what suits you - and what doesn't.
Second possible reason: You lack appropriate skills or strategies
That may sound devastating at first - but it is by no means a reason to despair. Often our ideas fail because we have a wrong idea of what it takes to achieve our goal. This leads to the fact that we think it has to be that simple - and then quickly become frustrated or consider ourselves fundamentally incapable. But that's nonsense, because a lot of things that appear very simple from the outside simply require certain inner skills, strategies - or simply more knowledge.
The solution here is to think in small steps and to get more information about how to proceed successfully. Sticking to the songwriting example, it can help to gather information about how successful songwriters write their lyrics. What is the scheme of your favorite artists? Try to orient yourself towards those who have already achieved what you have set yourself the goal - this also applies to other artistic blocks outside of songwriting.
Third possible reason: Your goal does not match your values
It may be that you are not completely at peace with yourself about achieving your goal. Let's say you've decided to play a live concert. You imagine what it would be like to be in the spotlight on a stage - and you get really nasty jitters. In this case, your goal may well be inconsistent with your internalized values. The first thing to do here is to ask what value the appearance (or your personal goal) represents. It could be, for example, that you promise yourself recognition from your performance. Fun, solidarity or exchange would also be obvious values.
At the same time, however, it can also be that the value of security is very important to you. This can (!) Go hand in hand with potential conflicts if the two seem incompatible to you. This can be expressed, for example, in thoughts like "What exactly should I do when I'm on stage?" Or "I'm afraid of embarrassing myself because I don't know how to behave."
In such a case you should take this need seriously and address the concern about the lack of confidence in action. Take a look, for example, at how different artists create their performances. What do you like about it and what don't you like? It is even more effective if you imagine your dream performance with all your senses. You can do this alone or accompanied by a coach in a coaching session.
Fourth possible reason: Your goal does not match your beliefs
It is possible that your goal is also inconsistent with certain beliefs that you have internalized. Let's stay with the performance example. It could be that you believe inwardly that you should "not take up any space" or "not make yourself too important". Maybe you think about yourself that you always "fail when it matters", or think that you "really don't really have what it takes".
In such cases it is extremely helpful to activate certain internal resources that are associated with positive thoughts and beliefs. Important resources in this case could be "self-confidence," "self-worth," "confidence," "security," or "creativity." For this, imagine a situation in which you had the respective resource fully available. Perhaps there was a moment, for example in your life where you were sprayed with creativity or an experience in which you found yourself very valuable?
If there are multiple resources that you want to tap into within yourself, find a different situation for each one. Call them back to your senses in a very sensual way until you can feel the resource very clearly - for example as a feeling of "security". Then imagine your performance (or your personal target situation) as you experience it filled with your inner resources. If you can develop an intense, sensual-positive vision, nothing stands in the way of your goal.
A few more tips and comments
- Ask yourself how you have successfully mastered a similar situation before. What helped you to overcome the past hurdle and achieve your goal?
- You can also ask yourself what your target situation would look like if everything were very easy. From these points of view, you can develop a positive vision.
- The stronger the positive vision, the more realistic it will become and also guide you in your target situation.
In conclusion, I would like to emphasize once again that the point is not that you should force yourself to do something. The idea is that you can achieve your goal from an inner drive with fun, joy and ease. It can also be helpful to team up with other musicians and work on joint projects. Because working together can also help to dissolve blockages. Here at mukken you can network with musicians from your area. With this in mind, I wish you all the best and good luck!
Depending on what is causing your blockage, you may not be able to progress on your own. In such a case, it is advisable to contact a coaching expert you trust. They can respond to you individually and accompany you professionally in solving the blockade, which can sometimes be challenging.
Originally published on July 13, 2021, updated on March 4, 2023
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