This week I was playing a concert in Totnes, close to where I grew up as a child. I was fortunate to play in a wealth of different youth music groups and ensembles. It led me to decide to become a musician.
When we start as children, we don’t know what a profession looks like, or how it will work. I was fortunate to have various viola teachers who were able to support my journey. Two of whom were in the audience of the concert! One of whom said she’d had imposter syndrome whilst teaching me, as she thought I played the pieces as well as she did! It was sweet of her to confess, 35 years later!
I’m not sure it was true, but it is something that many people deal with. Feeling like they’re not good enough to do what they’re doing. Or simply feeling like they’re not good enough, fullstop. It’s a sad thing that so many of us don’t feel esteem for ourselves. That we only see the limitations. But that’s only part of the picture.
If I only saw my limitations, I wouldn’t be doing much. Instead, I see both my limitations, and my possibilities, my strengths, my assets. I don’t only look at those either, or I’d be difficult in a whole different way. But we need to see the whole picture, all of ourselves in it. We’ve all got good bits, and bad bits. Parts of us that don’t work so well, and others that work wonderfully. We need all of it for real self-esteem, for a realistic self-image.
Much of what we do in a weekly lesson is focussed around movement. Many people come because they want to move better, feel better. I see a shift in how my students see their limitations, as they find their physical possibilities. Sometimes a small shift at a time, barely noticeable, until there’s a different posture. Or their friends start to notice they look better. I’ve made this journey myself, so I’ve experienced it from both sides.
Transform how you move, feel and live 