Two of the biggest roadblocks to progress in guitar playing are negative self-talk and random mental chatter – distracting thoughts that seem to pop into your head despite your best intentions. Negative self-talk is the collection of put-downs that form inside of your head when you are experiencing a roadblock in your practice session, or perhaps after a mistake during a performance. Mental chatter often intrudes during practice, especially when you must perform a repetitive task during practice.
A productive approach to practicing and performing is to be quietly aware of these tendencies and let go of the internal chatter and the self-criticism. When you notice that you are talking to yourself too much, gently let go of that inner voice which interrupts your session with random thoughts, and turn your attention back to your playing. Employ frequent breaks, especially when repetitive work becomes boring. During performances and challenging practice sessions, foster an attitude of acceptance. Avoid labeling your work ‘good’ or ‘bad’. If your playing is going well, leave it as it is; if you are having difficulties, make the necessary changes without self-condemnation.
With this calm approach, you will be able to perceive your playing in a more realistic frame of mind – and thus evaluate it better. Moreover, you will allow your body and your mind to function freely and naturally. Dropping needless mental chatter helps to develop a calm, noncritical awareness of your playing. Even when you become aware of the chatter, however, it can be difficult to overcome. Techniques that boost focus, such as deep breathing, can be very helpful for reducing such ‘mental noise.’
As you master your tendency to let your mind wander during times of stress or boredom, you will find that both practice and performance will become more productive in less time.
