It has been almost two weeks since one of our cats disappeared. This is the second time a cat of ours has vanished without a trace in mysterious circumstances. It has been heartbreaking, especially because Mochi, as he was called, was the first being I saw in the house upon waking up. He lay down on the couch in my office every morning as I began my day, writing or reading my emails. And followed me around the house like a puppy when I left the office or decided to do something else. And among all the instruments being played in the house, he preferred listening to the viola da gamba, especially when I played Renaissance music.
This event has nothing to do with what I would like to discuss, but I am just mentioning it because Mochi has been on my mind, as I wonder about his whereabouts. And my daughter and I did everything we could to get the word out, including a call on social media in our village and the two other nearby villages in our region. To no avail.
The topic that has also been on my mind is self-reflection. I have mentioned reflecting back on our playing many times in previous posts. Naturally, the focus is on self-reflection as it applies to music, but in this post, I would also like to discuss its application in virtually every aspect of our lives. What does it mean anyway, to reflect on oneself and one’s playing? And why is this a healthy practice? Does everyone engage in this practice, or do they remain frozen in time in their old patterns?
Self-reflection implies that an individual looks back at the events in their lives, whether in music or otherwise, and hopefully celebrates the positive aspects, and, regarding situations that were so-called negative or less than satisfactory in their outcomes, they reflect on the lessons they have acquired from them. That means thinking about how they could have behaved, thought, acted, or, in the case of music, played differently.
The significance of this practice is simply stated to improve our well-being. After all, human beings aim for a happier life. And if that is one of our goals, I think a good place to start is to clear up the behaviors and attitudes in ourselves that no longer serve us. So, the place to start first is us. And it is not, of course, as easy as it sounds, but the results will be forthcoming when we do our best.
It is common knowledge that no one is perfect, and that is all the more reason to reflect on ourselves first. This should help us be more in harmony with the world and hopefully with the environment we are in. Therefore, we should experience personal growth, let go of grudges and negative feelings we have been holding, and so on. Consequently, if we are honest with ourselves, we can’t remain the same we were a year or even a month ago, provided that the growth we are experiencing is headed in a positive direction. Again, if we are doing this inner work. It is similar to practicing our instruments. The more we practice, the better we get.
Unfortunately, not everyone exercises this healthy mindset, as I observed just recently.
Self-reflection is an ongoing process in our journey in music and life. It involves looking back, analysis, and proactive resolutions in bringing about a better world for us and, consequently, for the people around us.
Can you relate to the thoughts I share in this blog post? Please comment below.
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