Two incidents this week formed the theme for this post: my daughter’s 30th birthday project to run 30 km (shout-out Alice: she did it!) and the struggle and work of my students preparing for this weekend’s upcoming NATS Ontario Vocal Showcase.
Example number one: as I read the play-by-play report of Alice’s run on November 12 (thanks, Jana, for the evocative description of each phase of the route), I was moved by the journey that got her to that point–the months of training, the many set-backs (injuries, illness)–and then the monumental achievement of the event itself. From flagging earlier in the run to bouncing back at 16 km in, looking strong; to wanting to give up right near the end with just 5 km to go and needing the support of her big sister who ran the last leg with her and held her hand for a bit; to finding it in herself to sprint as soon as she saw her friends and family cheering her on at the finish line: this was a case of sheer determination, grit and will. This was a battle with her own doubting mind, and she won.
Example number two: one of my students proved to herself today in studio class that she could conquer her own fears by simply telling herself that she had worked hard, that she could trust the technique she had right now, and simply do what she set out to do, which was tell the story and sing with her whole voice. From someone who was struggling hard in recent lessons to someone who literally motivated her SELF to conquer her own demons, this too was an act of resilience and commitment. She said it herself later in our Group Technique class: she could use her mind over matter, rather than allowing her fear to take hold. She mentioned that earlier this week in her psychology class they had learned about fear and how so much of it exists in the mind. We have the power to talk to ourselves with calm and rational words, and choose the path of joy rather than the path of pain. She trusted in the learning of her body, the drills and exercises she had been doing for weeks, and chose to believe that they would kick in when she needed them, rather than obsessing in her head over whether she was up to the task.
We can all choose how we show up to sing, and how we show up in life. We can choose fear and doubt, or we can choose the open-hearted, open-throated delivery of a clear story. Our mind can conquer matter. And that matters.