Learning to get ourselves to practice, makes perfect

[@lucifervalentine5406]

I like your approach. The carrot is much more motivating than the stick for long-term habits. Sure, being chased by pirhanas is good for a quick adrenaline-fueled swim, but to make something a permanent part of your life you gotta enjoy something about it. When I look back to the things I am proud of acheiving, it was fun and satisfaction with myself that fueled me to keep the challenge going. For months I was hard with myself telling me I 'must' practice for hours a day - and I practiced zero. One day I did 3 hours and it was quite tiring. So instead I recently told myself 'Keep your goals grand, but take small steps toward them, because it's better than the current situation of stagnation'. These past few days I easily did 30-55m per day and I am seeing steady progress. I had to remain humble and promise myself that in the end I *will* practice a lot, but that the climb there must be gradual for me to stick to it. Orienting selective attention is a fear for me, and my solution is exactly as you said, to get started, to ask myself 'How small does the action need to be, for me to make it right now?' as if I am giving myself a blank check but insisting that I sign it. So if an entire piece seems difficult, I say learn just one hand part. If it's too fast, play it slow. Most things in life can be broken down.

[@IoPrin]

❤