So this week’s article was greatly delayed. Well, if anything, I’d say that it’s also related to the fact that the performance is next week and so this week the ‘intensive rehearsals phase’ started. But beyond that, let’s get started ok.
So first I would like to refer to a conversation I had with someone who will be dancing in the performance. Now, this person had to self-direct somewhat. Yet he said choreography wasn’t his thing. He just liked the dance part.
Then I asked him ‘but wait… isn’t the choreography the actual creative part? Is it there in the dancing process itself too?’
And basically, to sum up the results of our conversation, doing the choreography for his dancing is for him similar to how maybe composing the music for my songs is for me. It’s just ain’t so natural and fluent. And yes, he said that there is creativity in dancing. Because yes, there may be a template overall, but everyone expresses themselves differently in doing that whatever movement. And that itself is where creativity lies.
So for me, I can relate that to something as mundane as me just playing the piano. Even though I don’t really feel all that creative doing the act since it is kinda like just plain execution of what’s already there, one could argue! that the same goes for singing other peoples’ songs at karaoke. And in ‘performing’ there, we’re all necessarily performing the same words in our own styles true to us. Just as I can sense my brand stamped on my articles?
Anyway, what I got from all that is this. Your expression of it is your creativity. Many people could try to do something similar. But it’s your authenticity and what comes most naturally to you that flows like a clear comfy stream from you time and time again, always. It cannot truly be replicated. And the ideal epitome is a creation of a flow that allows! whatever’s organic expression to stem from you always. The most real it is.
Thus, I would say that a next level mastery of these disciplines would be to have gleaned, understood and owned all the facets of your expression in all their uniqueness, then consistently!!! reproduce that as your brand and your novel creativity. Whatever the discipline may be.
So on to the next point. The average of your consistency is your epitome. What do I mean by this? Well, let’s use the example of typing speed then. Basically your normal, average typing speed is like 40 wpm. Let’s say you do it a hundred times. The results fluctuate all over the place like a curve with some faster and some slower! And as it turns out your highest record was 59 wpm.
So does this mean you can go around telling everyone that your highest record is 59 wpm and use that as the benchmark for your standard?
Well, I mean, technically you could if you really wanted to. However, let’s just take an honest look at the statistics now. So your mean typing speed was actually 48 wpm following the initial improvement burst! Huh, the 59!!! was merely a magure, a fluke. In fact your second highest, rank 2/100 was actually 54 wpm. You just really really entered a peak clutch state for that 1/100, 59 wpm one.
So if you go for a job interview, for instance, do you really think you can go mislead HR that your typing speed can go up to 59 wpm? No. Rather, you should tell them that it’s more like 59 wpm at most for look at the curve, and that’s where the bulk of your results in the 100 tries lie!
Anyway, what this tale is trying to convey is this – rather than treat the flukes as your skill level, please, you should truly treat your average consistent performances that you can reproduce almost always correspondingly as your epitome.
For some things you don’t really care at all what your skill level is. Fine.
However, the thing is that for some other things… you totally do!
Anyway here are some things that you can derive from ^.
Maybe you can consistently challenge a different template, be it a song or a dance or whatever. By the time you’re done with it, you just need to get it to a solid 75-80%! Now that will totally prove your nice solid skill level.
Or otherwise, you could simply go for quality over quantity and just tirelessly spend more time on each one, bringing your rendition of them to freaking 100%! I mean, I suppose that’s the true level of all the commercial professional performances, covers and such in an ideal world. Quality!! in a peak demonstration of your skills. May be effortful but it’s truly worth it k.
Anyway, if you want to truly master something, I’ve found in recent days! that the true peak is being able to replicate it nigh flawlessly!!! time and time again on a consistent basis, at a high quality.
And that is the level you have to reach if ya really wanna be good at something.
Let’s say you’re a professional solo musician and are gonna put on a live performance before an audience. Yet just 1,2 hours before the show starts alas! You get into a big fight with your manager/live partner/best friend. It’s truly eating away at your inner peace. Well, what can be done then ideally besides professionalism? Your professionalism is such that you dismiss, kick all the disturbances outta your mind. And you go kickass.
Literally still put on a flawless enough performance without any major obvious wrong notes or error-laden portions. Just your consistent high skill! being masterfully demonstrated.
Just think about a sports tournament. Fine, if you really get into the zone and perform uncharacteristically masterfully maybe you can beat the World No. 1 in the round of 16. But then smack! You’re back in your usual not-that-great quality performance zone and you get thrashed by No 10 anyways!
And even that is an exaggeration kinda to be honest, because truly, the mastery of those who are at the peak is so supreme that they’re so completely leagues and realms above the ants below them. I unconventionally gave the example already but ideally, for this great performance to be possible one must literally even be in the same act, league in the first place… Otherwise, even your extra 30% performance can’t push you into the same arena of even being able to contend with ’em!
Lolz. Anyway, now for my last point of the day.
All this talk of consistency has gotten me to think of the idea of a baseline. That baseline from which all your consistency stems, for that is where all your output is released.
Today I’d like to quickly talk about the baseline of life. Basically, how’s your! default! state! of! being! in! life!???
I get that sometimes people are caught in extended periods of suffering in life. I totally do. However, in my honest opinion that’s a sinkhole we gotta pull ourselves outta asap. Because oftentimes it’s just a prelude to misery…
Anyway, let’s forget about that for now. See, many people need this life experience to grow past the point where they will still be bogged down miserably by that suffering. But maybe once they’ve grown past that point, they’ll look back one day and just shake their heads. All that needless suffering! Why did I even get bogged down in that, huh! Lame!
And you totally know that were you to be in a similar situation now, it’d be as easy as ABC to you.
Well. Life is a game of growth, so yeah! Just be happy of how far you’ve come.
Oh, but anyway, I totally digress. Let’s get back to daily baseline state.
Now, let me suggest a possible ideal daily baseline state ok. It is one where you’re carefree and happy by default! When people throw negativity at you you sidestep it with a smile on your face. You transmute whatever needs to be transmuted. You live in full excitement doing the things that truly light you up. You speak sincerely and from your heart. You wish no bad will unto others.
So that’s totally just an example that you can give reference to. If it’s unfortunately still too hard for you right now. No worries! Just do what you can. The ideal is to have a better daily baseline state. That way, overall, across the board, your entire life will be brighter!
As for me myself… well, I suppose I’ll just quickly share about something I am currently looking at wrt to my own baseline state okay. Idk if it might be helpful to you or anything, but you can just take a look as I end off.
So basically, our base state is inner peace. Why is it that we need to occupy ourselves with activities in order to derive pleasure and feel a sense of lack or sadness when we’re aren’t doing anything? So I came to the conclusion that ah, right. Even when I’m not doing anything, I can still be in peace and bliss. Of course I can! For that is truly my default state. In any!!! situation whatsoever. I feel elated at the peace that surrounds me.
Ah!! The sound of the raindrops as I sit in a sheltered house, listening to some comfortable music. Peace is bliss. Ah! As I sit in the group waiting for the session to be over, I am no longer impatient. I no longer feel it’s lame it’s over already hey man seriously can’t we end it I want outta here! No, instead, I feel happy that I was even able to spend time in this group and have a nice, fulfilling time with the resources provided me… Peace is bliss.
Etcetera etcetera!
So, one thing is this. Ah. Now I see why people meditate. Before I always just thought it’s because it helps clear the mind of thoughts and puts one in a peaceful comfortable silence, yes. In fact, I do still think that! However, it is kinda like my understanding has deepened?! Because now I also see! that silence as that which in itself is able to fulfil. Why? …Because peace is our base state. We need nothing else on top of it!! All else is but perception.
I no longer see the perceptions through the five senses as that which fulfil and satiate me. Instead, they are but ways through which I experience the world, assist me in entering certain states of being that bolster me so! 🙂
And there you have it. You wanted something deep? You got something deep. Lolz. Getting me closer to seeing everything as perfection.
But anyways, yeah. One final point.
The mindset I used here – I think it’s seriously conducive for gratitude yo. So maybe you can try it yeah! Just try to see the peace in everything. That seriously can be transformational methinks!
So yeah, bye. Kinda wrote a long article instead of a mini-article today, but it was fun. And I already have an idea of what to write in the coming week even though it’s performance week, and I do still intend to fulfil it. K, bye!