Happy Thanksgiving – Give Thanks To What?
Posted on 26. Nov, 2008 by Per Bristow in Health, Performance
Happy Thanksgiving! This is the time of year when many here in the US, me included, reflect on the things we are grateful for. And there is so much I feel truly grateful for… but then… through my meditation yesterday I changed my mind on what those things were…
You see I haven’t meditated much recently. I’ve also experienced a lot of turmoil lately. Stuff has been going on that has taken a toll on my psyche and body – things I’d rather be without. So I realized I needed to meditate.
If you haven’t meditated before, or you have been away from it for some time, you will find the attempt to silence your mind quite futile. In fact, your mind will seemingly be racing more than ever – you are simply becoming more aware of it.
And it came to me why I want to get back to meditate regularly again. It came to me exactly where in my body I was storing this stress – the turmoil. Then after a while, after merely becoming aware, I was suddenly able to do something about it. I could release the inner tension and I felt like a new person.
And it came to me how unbelievably thankful I am that I have sought to develop these inner skills and an unstoppable belief of the magic within us.
And it came to me why I had always sought to develop these skills. See, granted, I have never experienced really bad stuff, and for that I am also really thankful. But as thankful as I am for all the great things in my life, I realized that I’m really thankful for all the bad things.
I’m immensely thankful for my back injury that could have killed my dream of being an athlete but instead turned me into one… for losing my voice that could have ended my singing and coaching career but turned me into a better singer and coach than I could possibly have been otherwise… for losing my health that gave me a stronger body and mind … for being humiliated… for feeling shy and awkward… for feeling pain… for feeling scared… for losing over and over… for failing… and failing again… and failing again… that turned me into…
As I wrote about in the soccer game article, you cannot win if you cannot lose. And I am immensely thankful for all the turmoil that has provided challenges in my life.
Wishing for problems to disappear just doesn’t serve us. We certainly don’t want to store problems away and pretend they don’t exist. If so, rest assured they will manifest in your body a couple of years later. They will always be holding you back.
Instead, we elevate to a new level where these “problems” were indeed the necessary stepping stones. We get to the point where there is no way we could have gotten here without the help of these “problems”.
Numerous clients come to me because they have voice problems and want to get their voice back. But do you really want to get your old voice back? What if we leave the old voice in the gutter and build a new one – a new physical and inner voice that you would never have discovered unless you had lost the old one?
Many want to overcome their shyness and lack of confidence. What if this shyness and lack of confidence is exactly the ingredients that make you the interesting artist you can be – an artist you could never have become if you hadn’t had these experiences?
There is absolutely no way we can grow if we don’t do what we have never done before.
Yes, every step of growth means doing something you have never done before. It means doing something you don’t know how to do yet – whether it is to grow a business, heal a body, excel in a skill, face a confrontation, or improve a relationship – yes even the relationship with yourself.
If I can’t face this turmoil – these problems – how can I expect to elevate to a new level of ability? Come to think of it, I don’t want this turmoil to “disappear”. Hey, I don’t want a life without problems. I want the problems! Come on, bring ‘em on!
Yes, I am immensely thankful for all my challenges and failures. Does that make me a failure or a winner?
How about you? What are you thankful for?
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17 Responses to “Happy Thanksgiving – Give Thanks To What?”
Leave a Reply
Carl
27. Nov, 2008
Hi Per,
you know, i am a firm beliver in problems. never mind how much you try to avoid them, they will always come. what seperates the super sucessful from the avarage is what we do about them.
i have had alot of problems, far too many to mention here. most have been finantial hardships but many have been personal and familly related.
if we ingore issues they always, without doubt, come back and hurt us again. i found the secret is to learn from your mistakes, and the mistakes of others and then apply those lessons moving forward.
i must admit to not purchasing your singing course yet. like so many other things in my life at the moment, i havent been able to make the time for it. as a business owner with a new business, its not easy to spend any time on the things you want, you just spend most of it doing things you have to do for your business.
i dont know much about singing, i am actually a drummer, but your spritual approch and your views on the healing effects of music and specifically singing, is a refreashing change from endless scales.
in short, keep up the good work, keep the odd free lessons going for people like me who cant commit time to a proper course as yet. i look forward to working with you in the near future.
jan
27. Nov, 2008
I’m just really interested in what and how you meditate. Are you a believer of a religion or do you just think about yourself, talking to your soul? I notice that you’re very different, you’re slow paced, you’re never in a hurry, there’s an inner peace and ease about you.
Boogie
27. Nov, 2008
Hi Per,
i guess life wouldn’t make no sense, if everything would always be ok, it’s maybe the essence of life, that we learn and grow from our mistakes and failures, after all everything on this planet is based on polarity, light – dark, high – low, happy – sad, ect.
meditation can be a key-element of balancing this constant struggle in life, so what you wrote makes a lot of sense and hopefully inspires others to do so.
thank you for all your great articles!
on another note (again), i’m ready to get your course and as i asked before, would it be possible to add paypal to your payment-options, since i don’t have a credit-card? i tried emailing your customer-support but haven’t gotten an answer?
again, thanks for this great blog, keep em comin’ Per!
Regine
28. Nov, 2008
Thank you for another wonderful article Per. I had a feeling we might see an email from you, so I was very excited and thankful to read it. Each day brings so many things to be thankful for, an endless supply I’m sure, we just need to take the time to recognize them. I believe the universe is in a constant state of peace, waiting for us to connect. Meditation is a great way to do this. I have had a lot going on in my personal life lately, that I haven’t been sure how to deal with. However, I believe each problem brings with it the opportunity for growth. I know there have been many events and challenges in my life that I am thankful for. It makes perfect sense to be thankful for our own mistakes and failures which make us stronger and more aware. I am also thankful for all the people that through life and death that have taught me so much.
Blessings everyONE.
Mo
29. Nov, 2008
Oh my gosh that just reminded me that I still have a huge assignment due next Monday…that’s a problem.
Kray Van Kirk
02. Dec, 2008
There was a Zen teacher once who told his students:
“If it is the right time to die, go ahead and die. If you encounter great suffering, on the other hand, then you must endure”.
I have no idea, but I would bet an enormous amount that his next words were: “It really sucks, but that’s how it is”, which his students didn’t write down because they thought it didn’t sound profound enough.
But regardless of the difficulty or pain of a given event, we generally make it into something much worse by the labels we give it and the lens through which we view it. I have a particularly onerous set of labels and judgments I level on myself and my (lack of?) abilities, which simply serve to make things worse, or even make some things bad which aren’t bad at all, but simply there. I had a concert this last weekend, and of course I wanted everything, especially my voice, to be perfect. I don’t sell CDs any more, or charge money for my music, which means that my shows are no longer sales pitches to convince people to buy things. That means that the only thing that is really happening on stage is whatever conversation arises between me and the audience. And of course, my voice wasn’t perfect- it had it’s little quirks and breaks along with it’s good spots. Viewed through one lens, the show might be seen to have fallen short. But if I remove that lens, I can see that I gave everything I had to the audience in the conversation between us, and there was nothing more to be done, and that even if the voice had been “perfect”, the gift would not have been greater.
Big Poppa Stampley
03. Dec, 2008
Per,
Thank you for this article. I really needed it. I have been going through some depression lately. I had been gigging 3 to sometimes 7 days a week ! Paying my bills and then some, for the past few years. But, hit a wall like so many people in the past few months.
I forgot that the work, mostly cover shows, was to allow me to write and record and develop my original music, and the demand for it.
I will use this misfortune of lost income, to woodshed ,on my voice,guitar playing, writing , recording and self promotion, to get better shows and move my career along.
Thanks for the spiritual kick in the rear!!
adam rounisto
11. Dec, 2008
lol, this reminds me of a story…
there was a man who was always in a stroke of bad luck and he was overheard complaining about it by an old man who approached him. the old man said “hey I overheard what you were saying about all of your problems and I wanted to make an offer” the man looked confused but asked him to go on. ” well, I can bring you to a place where problems don’t exist
a place that as long as you are there you will no longer have to worry and nobody has even a single problem”
intrigued, the man agreed and the went off until they arrived at such a place. when they got there the man looked shocked and confused. “I don’t understand” said the man, “I wanted to be in a place without worry and you brought me to a cemetery”
the point of the story being that life will always have problems to overcome. if you don’t want problems you might as well be dead.
I agree to this story because I truly value the sport of overcoming your fears and obstacles…it’s what makes us into what we are and they are necessary for improvement.
MaxxNY
08. Feb, 2009
I also feel I have to hack scratch for everything I have got, but I will say Im am probably doing better than most,Im not rich but I made it a point to own my home, free and clear. I hated to work just to pay rent. Now I have time to do pretty much what I want, or be lazy. I write my own music, I play drums in a band, practice guitar and have played bass in bands. Its only recently I decided to get more into singing so I would have a voice for my originals. I used to sing in chorus until 6th grade when it was “sissy”
Ive even done a few auditions just to see how I place, the last one was OK but they weren’t as tight but the feed back I got was basically I was the only guy who got close to Layne Staley of Alice in Chains. As for pursuing singing, my approach was, download the songs I could and liked to sing, get the lyrics, stick a finger in my ear and let her rip without judgment as Per recommends. I also highly suggest recording yourself while you practice or rehearse. This helps A LOT. Ok you cringe a little but you also hear what sounds good. Its a necessary evil. Withhold judgment and go on auto pilot.
I like Per’s “inner game” approach.
ghing
26. Nov, 2009
hi per,
Great!!!thanks for your inspiring articles.its nice to keep on reading your messeges,learn to sing when i was 3 yrs old at our church choir until i grow up then i study voice lesson at YAMAHA SCHOOL OF MUSIC in phils.for 1 yr,i have a good teacher,but i think now not so good as you.i check all the youtube voice lessons training but yours much more interesting and challenging.my problems are,i cannot afford to buy your CDs lessons but i know its more great help for my voice.im teaching and conducting choir.but still im not happy and satisfied what i did,i always have join the concerts but if i over practise i get easily tired and hopless afterwards,i felt that the audiences are not satisfied enough my performance.hope you can advice and help me.im now in spain we have a big concert in our gospel band this dec.5,thanks for your advice hope you can visit spain barcelona someday.God Bless.
Maureen
26. Nov, 2009
Thanks Per, You know I have also been thinking that I must get back to my meditation practise, so thanks for re-enforcing that for me!
Guess what I have got an audition for Britains Got Talent. Isn't that wonderful!
Wish me Good Luck. Any tips for Nerves.
Have a Very Happy Thanksgiving
Lots of Love and Peace
Maureen J. McGowan
John
26. Nov, 2009
Great article as per usual! (Pun intended)
I'm not sure I'll ever be in a place where I'm comfortable with singing in front of others or even want to but I love singing for myself and that's how your course has helped me. A little bit selfish but there ya go
Happy Thanksgiving everyone,
John
McG
27. Nov, 2009
Hi Per, your observations are great about meditation, thanksgiving. I’m not in the US, but your article and published responses avoid the divine and supernatural influence on our affairs. Resigning to fate as the determiner of our estate would be quite erroneous. There is a God and His supernatural influence that has the capacity to fix all woes and issues life offers. To whom are we grateful? To whom are we thankful? And by whom should our meditation be shapped. God is revealed in the person of Christ and the Holy Bible reveals divinity at work in the human person causing the Christian to take charge of the circumstances in his world. When you have put your faith to work and have come through, you can define ur thanksgiving.
Geneva Neale
27. Nov, 2009
I thank the universe and all truths or beliefs meaning I thank God for blessings of all degrees and angles of my creative foundation. On November 22, 2009 Sunday jacksoul lead singer Haydain Neale passed. "Still Believe in love." I just ordered his memorial stone in remembrance of my son which will be at the memorial services. In life and in death we give thanks. Harvests have evolved from family farms to big business farming for this we are apprehensive and resent the fact that small individual farming is not economically worth it for the little farmers to invest in as a career. However we still enjoy that thanksgiving feeling of abundance to small farmers who eek out a living at a loss but who are suppliers to the big box. I give thanks that all my children are successes. I give thanks for your simple program that is allowing me to write this gratitude piece. Today my voice has evolved because of the therapy exercises you provide, of course I sound like a moose as I meditate a e i o u. Gratitude for all I have, for all I give and for all that I receive daily.
Mallory
28. Nov, 2009
Hello! This is Mallory, and I was wondering if there is any way I could send you a recording of my voice. If there is any way please email me back.
-Mallory
ruth
29. Nov, 2009
Hi! Thank you for your very motivating article. The things your share there are so true. Personally, I have come to believe that if you treat every obstacle as a rung in the ladder of success, you'll keep moving up and onward to bigger and better things. That's often easier said than done, but it still holds true.
Don't think of setbacks as losses, but as opportunities, vacant lots on which to build your dreams.
Anja
02. Dec, 2009
Wow. o:
I actuly never tought about it that way. I'm so thankful that you started thi thing, and for all amazing things that you do, just for people to feel confident about them self, and stuff like that. You're realy amazing.