I wanted to talk about something that I’ve had issues with since I first started singing. It’s something that many people, musicians or not, deal with, but I see it manifest in many different ways, not only with students, but with fellow musicians. Self-doubt can be a serious obstacle; something so potentially debilitating that it can cause problems on a physical level. Singers especially can suffer from self-doubt, causing the throat and rest of the body to tense up, literally cutting off sound, making you forget lyrics and phrasing you’ve practiced. Many musicians miss out on great musical opportunities when they doubt themselves–not hitting that high note in a phrase, not playing that solo the way you wanted, or not introducing yourself to that person who could potentially get you more gigs. I’ve always said that singing, along with playing other types of instruments, is 80% mental, so it’s good to recognize certain behaviors that might not be so beneficial to you not only as a musician, but as a person.
Behavior Related to Self-Doubt
1. Comparing yourself to others.
Gauging where you’re at as a musician and person based on someone else’s accomplishments or proficiency level isn’t realistic. Each person has their own set of goals, their own musical preferences, and their own life path. You should always compare yourself and what you’ve done to who you were, not someone else.
2. Doubting whether you can do something just because it seems hard.
Just because you may not be able to do something now, doesn’t mean you won’t be able to do it down the road. I’ve seen many musicians pass on great musical opportunities because of this factor. For example, I have the worst time trying to make lead sheets or charts because I’m not very good at music theory. However, I try not to let the fact that I’m not good at making charts now keep me from transcribing some really great music because I know that with enough practice, I will eventually be proficient.
3. Not being able to let yourself try and fail.
This one sounds really scary and it is, but it is the most beneficial in the growth process of being a musician. This one also ties in with #2 because when you try something, you are bound to mess up–you’re learning. You have to be willing to put yourself in uncomfortable situations and possibly fail because from those failures, we learn what mistakes were made and how we can improve for next time. Plus, the next time it happens, it won’t feel as scary or horrible because you’ve already experienced it before!
Ultimately, we have to learn to enjoy the process; not just the destination. Don’t take yourself too seriously–the main reason why you started doing music to begin with was because it was fun. Learn to relax and enjoy the moments of uncertainty (being randomly called up to sing at a jam session or learning a song for a gig at the end of the week). Some of the most beautiful musical moments result from randomness and mistakes.
Do you have any modes of thinking or behaviors related to self-doubt? Have these behaviors or thoughts hindered your performance or practice? Let us know in the comments below!