Klarinet Archive - Posting 000197.txt from 1998/08

From: <GTGallant@-----.com>
Subj: [kl] Self Sabotage
Date: Wed, 5 Aug 1998 21:12:38 -0400

After being on this list for a year now, I've noticed some individuals
continually efface themselves when it comes to clarinet playing. I won't
mention any names, hopefully you know who you are! This really disturbes me.
Here is the psychology of it: If you tell people you can't play, they will
not be suprised if you mess up and wont expect much of you - thus, saving
yourself the humiliation of inadequacy. On the surface, it feels good. Your
peers may laugh along with you when you say things like "I stink" or "I
can't", etc. But after a while, subconsciously you believe what you were
jokingly saying. This style of self sabotage not only affects your playing,
but has lasting negative consequences in other areas of life. Confidence is
not a sign of weakness, self loathing is. Your peers will respect you less
and less as a player and person if you are persistent with this "I suck"
persona. You'll find that nobody wants to play or be associated with you
professionally and/or personally. Let the listener be the judge of how you
sound, it is probably better than you think! Quit assuming and negative
thinking, just play. That said, let this serve as a wake-up call. You can
stop this vicious cycle of negative energy that eventually saturates your mind
like a dirty diaper! Act now, or the loser will be you.

Hopefully, response from professional players will solidify my argument. I
highly doubt any of them were self loathers.

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