Uncovering Self-Sabotage: How to Expand Your Life and Stop Getting in Your Own Way
In this episode, we’re diving into a deeply personal topic that affects many musicians: self-sabotage. We'll explore how to overcome the mental and emotional barriers that keep you from growing your music career and achieving your fullest potential.
Key Topics Covered:
Thermometers as an Analogy for Comfort Zones
We often adjust our internal "thermometers" to maintain what's familiar, even if it's not comfortable. This analogy illustrates how what we've normalized in the past may still dictate our present lives and music careers.
The Comfort Zone Explained
Familiarity is mistaken for safety, which is why we stay in comfort zones—whether it’s financial struggles or performance anxiety. Even if it’s detrimental, our brains cling to what’s worked in the past for survival.
Examples of Self-Sabotage
Many musicians sabotage their success due to normalized beliefs like the “starving artist” mentality. When new opportunities arise that push us beyond that comfort zone, we may subconsciously pull back to what’s familiar, even if it's harmful.
Rewiring Your Brain for Success
The key to expanding your life is to step out of your comfort zone in small, manageable ways and gradually increase that range. Whether it’s overcoming stage fright or growing your fan base, tiny steps make the change sustainable.
Practical Tips to Stretch Your Comfort Zone
Start small—like performing a single song on Instagram Live or at an open mic. These gradual steps help expand your comfort zone without overwhelming your nervous system.
Breathwork for Nervous System Regulation
Learning to breathe through your nose helps signal to your brain that you're safe, reducing anxiety. This technique can be especially helpful before performances or during moments of fear.
Understanding Trauma and Its Impact on Your Career
Whether you’ve experienced “capital T” trauma (major events) or “lowercase t” trauma (chronic issues like emotional neglect), these past experiences can impact your ability to thrive in your music career today. Healing these wounds helps break the cycle of self-sabotage.
How Coaching Can Help
As a certified trauma-informed coach, I help musicians identify and break through their self-sabotage patterns. If you're ready to heal past traumas and expand your life, let's work together.
Resources Mentioned:
If you're ready to break through your comfort zone, expand your life, and stop self-sabotaging your music career, this episode is for you.
