The following essay is Chapter 3 from
Drummer's Insight, the Meta Pursuit of Musicianship and Meaning
Section Three | Internal Tools
Drummer's Insight, the Meta Pursuit of Musicianship and Meaning
Section Three | Internal Tools
To prioritize is to place in order the things that are most important to us and to direct energy and resources to them. Integrity means to take an honest assessment of what we value the most and to purposefully structure our lives in a way that reflects those priorities or principles. Bringing together our deeply-held principles with our day-to-day actions is to live an integrated life. For us, that may mean having the time and resources we need to work on the drumset. Most of us spend the majority of our energy on work that is not our top priority, at least not directly. It is possible to arrange our lives so that there is a natural alignment of our principles, priorities, values and actions, which creates a life of meaning and well-being.
In the debate over nature vs. nurture, what sets expert performers apart from others is not hard work itself, but the desire to work hard. It is what John Riley refers to as the gift (Riley, The master drummer DVD, 2009), to have work that we desire to do above all else simply because it is the very act of working that gives us pleasure.
Intrinsic motivation goes beyond simply having a dream of action. It embodies the determination to act. At some point we need to ask ourselves some difficult questions; questions that address the degree to which our commitment translates into action. Such as, how do our day to day actions reflect our deeply held passions and principles? Within the limited amount of time and energy that we have in a day, a year, a lifetime, are we directing that energy to the things that we value the most?
There is the question of time. Not just a matter of scheduling, the question gets to the heart of what we prioritize, and how we use the limited amount of time and energy we have each day. It forces us to look at the alignment of our personal principles and values with the work we do. It’s not a matter of finding more time. We already have all the time we will ever have. There is not any more to come. We have to work within this time frame, this here and now. We begin working on the things that contribute directly to our goal, and eliminate demands on our time and energy that do not. We gradually make the shift from things that detract from our mission to things that contribute to its realization and success.
You are the orchestrator of your resources: time, energy, knowledge, experience and ability. The amount of time and energy we have are a finite resource. These limitations are fundamental. Responsibility for how we use them lies directly with us.
We get a reality check when we look at the music-related activities we are trying to accomplish within the limitations of time and energy we have.
With all that it takes, it’s not surprising we feel stress about there not being enough time. Add the demands created by a full time job that is unrelated to music, and the stress levels of not doing what we value simmer and boil over time.
We may ask, with all the commitments in life, when will I ever have the time for drums? Each day that passes we hope that someday we will have time to be able to do the very thing we love most. However, inaction contributes to stress, and we may feel we are not living in a way that represents our true passion. We are not living according to our values or convictions.
While hope can inspire one to initiate action, it is not action on its own. In fact, it is determination that really makes things happen. Determined and organized, we are able to create space for what we love within the time we have. It may take years to arrange, but we can gradually make the choices that allow us to do what we love. Beyond merely making time for what we love, more importantly in the broad scheme of life, we create a life where passion, profession, vocation and mission unite.
This has profound implications for the quality of life we experience. Uniting aspects of our intentions, words, actions and livelihood creates a harmonious way of life. The work builds upon an inner moral discipline. But rather than a morality based on fear, obligation, constraint, obedience, and morality, our discipline is based on harmony at the social, psychological, karmic and contemplative levels (Bodhi, 1999). Meaningful work that is a harmonic expression of our values leads to the furthering of a life well-lived. It is nothing less than self-determination, achieved through the combination of the basic universal psychological needs of competence, autonomy and connectedness (Deci et al., 1991). In Aristotle: Nicomachean Ethics (translated by Broadie and Rowe, 2002), Aristotle refers to daimon, living a life of authenticity in accordance with our highest human natures. He distinguishes happiness as living well rather than experiencing pleasure. More clearly defined by Ryan, Huta and Deci (2008) as the “processes involved in living well” (p. 141) rather than by pleasurable outcomes, eudaimonia “entails being actively engaged in excellent activity, reflectively making decisions, and behaving voluntarily towards ends that represent the realization of our highest human natures” (Ryan, Huta, & Deci, 2008).
It goes hand in hand that a life lived according to our deepest personal values and principles exists entirely of our own volition. One cannot live according to one’s own values without the autonomy necessary to do so. Ryan et al. define autonomy as “one’s reflective and thoughtful endorsement of actions” (p. 157). While eudaimonic living is generally defined as a way of living rather than by its outcomes, there are outcomes associated with it. In addition to an enduring subjective well-being, we experience a higher quality of physical and psychological health. We create a life of meaning and purpose. We thrive. We experience a life of vitality, and a sense of peace and harmony (Ryan et al., 2008).
We are very fortunate to have something we love to do more than anything else. While it seems as if it should be natural for everyone to be able to do what they love, the culture tells us otherwise. It takes work to put first that which we love the most. Integrating our principles within the actions of our daily life requires reflective consideration, and making the choice to endorse them requires acting of our own volition. Taking consistent actions that make space in our life for playing is the practice of making real changes in ourselves, changing our habits and taking steps that are in line with our priorities. A clear determination of where we are now lets us map out realistic goals and follow through with them. Doing nothing accomplishes nothing, and chews up a lot of time; perhaps a whole lifetime.
External factors have control over us only as much as we believe they do. Making the changes necessary to act on our priorities is our own responsibility. We need to believe in what is possible and then take responsibility for our actions. Most of us have dreams of things we wish to accomplish. Sometimes we hold ourselves back with the words, “if only …. “. This simple phrase wrongfully places responsibility for success or failure beyond our control. Blaming our inability to realize our potential on external situations is easy, epidemic actually, and is certainly a lot easier than working to be free from them. External blame is a comfort zone that becomes an excuse for inaction.
We may find certain paths to be blocked, but it does not mean we cannot find alternatives. Nothing is permanent. All things are either in a state of becoming or decay. There are always opportunities, and they sometimes can be uncovered in unlikely places. Usually, when one door closes, another door opens. Work to recognize and create opportunities, and have the courage to walk through the door when opportunity presents itself.
Imagine this possibility. What if you suddenly had the chance, without limitations, to do what you always wanted to do? Imagine that the one thing you always said you would do ‘if you could’ was now possible. Suddenly you can. You suddenly have unlimited available time. You have no more excuses. Would you jump at the chance or find more excuses? When the external excuses for not doing what you love are gone, you come face to face with yourself. You come face to face with your dream, and your ability to act on it. You are face to face with the true degree of your determination, and the grit required to drag up all that you are and bring it to bear. This can happen, but you must make it happen. Seldom does the opportunity to suddenly do what we love drop plainly from the sky. Orchestrating it is something we must work at daily. It is all part of the practice.
When there are no more excuses, when we suddenly can do what we said we always wanted to do, we may be temporarily frozen in fear…right before we bravely gather up all that we are made of, fears and all, to set off whole-heartedly on the journey of a lifetime.
Creativity, like art, comes in many forms. Improvise. Rethink. Deconstruct. Take numerous perspectives. Collaborate. Shaping a creative life is no different. Changing how we think about our work life, money and all the things we think we need opens up a lot of possibilities. Money is not the only thing that holds value. Having time can be more valuable than money since it is time which gives us the ability to have things money cannot buy.
Deliberately working hard every single day for what we love, directing attention and action continuously toward our goal, yields significant results. Living a purposeful life requires the mindful alignment of our actions with our deepest values. With all of our energy and resources derived from and devoted to deeply-held personal principles, we now live with integrity. It is a matter of finding ourselves at a deeper level, shedding the skin of servitude and emerging to face the challenge. Through determination, flexibility and making sacrifices, we zero in on what is really important. These sacrifices make our work more valuable, more sacred. It is a practice unto itself.
Take a long hard look at what you believe is truly important in your life. Maybe it is playing drumset, or maybe your passion lies in working for social justice, sustainable energy, agriculture, becoming a teacher, helping the less-fortunate, spending time with family, community organizing, etc. Thoughtfully taking action to direct our own life, we can gradually expand our actions to bring about greater change. Energy directed positively toward the self affects positive change for the greater good.
Rather than a series of destinations, life is made up of a finite stream of ephemeral moments and encounters, some unplanned, many beautiful, coincidental, others unfair, tragic and heartbreaking. The connectedness of these singular and fleeting events is the thread that weaves together the days of a life, giving joy, opportunities for reflection, thoughtfulness and empathy. Through reflection, thoughtfulness and empathy we clarify our purpose. Through reaching, trying and failing; by allowing ourselves to be vulnerable, we take bold action and build confidence. We often don’t get to choose life’s challenges, but we do have a choice whether or not we learn from them. Like a sharpening stone, the experiences of living either sharpen our sensibilities or they wear us down.
Thanks for reading.
--Brett F. Campbell, 2021
References
Aristotle. (2002). Aristotle Nicomechean Ethics. (S. Broadie, & C. Rowe, Trans.) New York: Oxford.
Bodhi, B. (1999). The noble eightfold path: The way to the end of suffering. Retrieved from Access to Insight: https://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/bodhi/waytoend.html
Riley, J. (2009). The master drummer DVD. Van Nuys, California: Alfred Music.
Ryan, R. M., Huta, V., & Deci, E. L. (2008). Living well: A self-determination theory perspective on eudaimonia. Journal of Happiness Studies, 9:139-170.
In the debate over nature vs. nurture, what sets expert performers apart from others is not hard work itself, but the desire to work hard. It is what John Riley refers to as the gift (Riley, The master drummer DVD, 2009), to have work that we desire to do above all else simply because it is the very act of working that gives us pleasure.
Intrinsic motivation goes beyond simply having a dream of action. It embodies the determination to act. At some point we need to ask ourselves some difficult questions; questions that address the degree to which our commitment translates into action. Such as, how do our day to day actions reflect our deeply held passions and principles? Within the limited amount of time and energy that we have in a day, a year, a lifetime, are we directing that energy to the things that we value the most?
There is the question of time. Not just a matter of scheduling, the question gets to the heart of what we prioritize, and how we use the limited amount of time and energy we have each day. It forces us to look at the alignment of our personal principles and values with the work we do. It’s not a matter of finding more time. We already have all the time we will ever have. There is not any more to come. We have to work within this time frame, this here and now. We begin working on the things that contribute directly to our goal, and eliminate demands on our time and energy that do not. We gradually make the shift from things that detract from our mission to things that contribute to its realization and success.
You are the orchestrator of your resources: time, energy, knowledge, experience and ability. The amount of time and energy we have are a finite resource. These limitations are fundamental. Responsibility for how we use them lies directly with us.
We get a reality check when we look at the music-related activities we are trying to accomplish within the limitations of time and energy we have.
With all that it takes, it’s not surprising we feel stress about there not being enough time. Add the demands created by a full time job that is unrelated to music, and the stress levels of not doing what we value simmer and boil over time.
We may ask, with all the commitments in life, when will I ever have the time for drums? Each day that passes we hope that someday we will have time to be able to do the very thing we love most. However, inaction contributes to stress, and we may feel we are not living in a way that represents our true passion. We are not living according to our values or convictions.
While hope can inspire one to initiate action, it is not action on its own. In fact, it is determination that really makes things happen. Determined and organized, we are able to create space for what we love within the time we have. It may take years to arrange, but we can gradually make the choices that allow us to do what we love. Beyond merely making time for what we love, more importantly in the broad scheme of life, we create a life where passion, profession, vocation and mission unite.
This has profound implications for the quality of life we experience. Uniting aspects of our intentions, words, actions and livelihood creates a harmonious way of life. The work builds upon an inner moral discipline. But rather than a morality based on fear, obligation, constraint, obedience, and morality, our discipline is based on harmony at the social, psychological, karmic and contemplative levels (Bodhi, 1999). Meaningful work that is a harmonic expression of our values leads to the furthering of a life well-lived. It is nothing less than self-determination, achieved through the combination of the basic universal psychological needs of competence, autonomy and connectedness (Deci et al., 1991). In Aristotle: Nicomachean Ethics (translated by Broadie and Rowe, 2002), Aristotle refers to daimon, living a life of authenticity in accordance with our highest human natures. He distinguishes happiness as living well rather than experiencing pleasure. More clearly defined by Ryan, Huta and Deci (2008) as the “processes involved in living well” (p. 141) rather than by pleasurable outcomes, eudaimonia “entails being actively engaged in excellent activity, reflectively making decisions, and behaving voluntarily towards ends that represent the realization of our highest human natures” (Ryan, Huta, & Deci, 2008).
It goes hand in hand that a life lived according to our deepest personal values and principles exists entirely of our own volition. One cannot live according to one’s own values without the autonomy necessary to do so. Ryan et al. define autonomy as “one’s reflective and thoughtful endorsement of actions” (p. 157). While eudaimonic living is generally defined as a way of living rather than by its outcomes, there are outcomes associated with it. In addition to an enduring subjective well-being, we experience a higher quality of physical and psychological health. We create a life of meaning and purpose. We thrive. We experience a life of vitality, and a sense of peace and harmony (Ryan et al., 2008).
We are very fortunate to have something we love to do more than anything else. While it seems as if it should be natural for everyone to be able to do what they love, the culture tells us otherwise. It takes work to put first that which we love the most. Integrating our principles within the actions of our daily life requires reflective consideration, and making the choice to endorse them requires acting of our own volition. Taking consistent actions that make space in our life for playing is the practice of making real changes in ourselves, changing our habits and taking steps that are in line with our priorities. A clear determination of where we are now lets us map out realistic goals and follow through with them. Doing nothing accomplishes nothing, and chews up a lot of time; perhaps a whole lifetime.
External factors have control over us only as much as we believe they do. Making the changes necessary to act on our priorities is our own responsibility. We need to believe in what is possible and then take responsibility for our actions. Most of us have dreams of things we wish to accomplish. Sometimes we hold ourselves back with the words, “if only …. “. This simple phrase wrongfully places responsibility for success or failure beyond our control. Blaming our inability to realize our potential on external situations is easy, epidemic actually, and is certainly a lot easier than working to be free from them. External blame is a comfort zone that becomes an excuse for inaction.
We may find certain paths to be blocked, but it does not mean we cannot find alternatives. Nothing is permanent. All things are either in a state of becoming or decay. There are always opportunities, and they sometimes can be uncovered in unlikely places. Usually, when one door closes, another door opens. Work to recognize and create opportunities, and have the courage to walk through the door when opportunity presents itself.
Imagine this possibility. What if you suddenly had the chance, without limitations, to do what you always wanted to do? Imagine that the one thing you always said you would do ‘if you could’ was now possible. Suddenly you can. You suddenly have unlimited available time. You have no more excuses. Would you jump at the chance or find more excuses? When the external excuses for not doing what you love are gone, you come face to face with yourself. You come face to face with your dream, and your ability to act on it. You are face to face with the true degree of your determination, and the grit required to drag up all that you are and bring it to bear. This can happen, but you must make it happen. Seldom does the opportunity to suddenly do what we love drop plainly from the sky. Orchestrating it is something we must work at daily. It is all part of the practice.
When there are no more excuses, when we suddenly can do what we said we always wanted to do, we may be temporarily frozen in fear…right before we bravely gather up all that we are made of, fears and all, to set off whole-heartedly on the journey of a lifetime.
Creativity, like art, comes in many forms. Improvise. Rethink. Deconstruct. Take numerous perspectives. Collaborate. Shaping a creative life is no different. Changing how we think about our work life, money and all the things we think we need opens up a lot of possibilities. Money is not the only thing that holds value. Having time can be more valuable than money since it is time which gives us the ability to have things money cannot buy.
Deliberately working hard every single day for what we love, directing attention and action continuously toward our goal, yields significant results. Living a purposeful life requires the mindful alignment of our actions with our deepest values. With all of our energy and resources derived from and devoted to deeply-held personal principles, we now live with integrity. It is a matter of finding ourselves at a deeper level, shedding the skin of servitude and emerging to face the challenge. Through determination, flexibility and making sacrifices, we zero in on what is really important. These sacrifices make our work more valuable, more sacred. It is a practice unto itself.
Take a long hard look at what you believe is truly important in your life. Maybe it is playing drumset, or maybe your passion lies in working for social justice, sustainable energy, agriculture, becoming a teacher, helping the less-fortunate, spending time with family, community organizing, etc. Thoughtfully taking action to direct our own life, we can gradually expand our actions to bring about greater change. Energy directed positively toward the self affects positive change for the greater good.
Rather than a series of destinations, life is made up of a finite stream of ephemeral moments and encounters, some unplanned, many beautiful, coincidental, others unfair, tragic and heartbreaking. The connectedness of these singular and fleeting events is the thread that weaves together the days of a life, giving joy, opportunities for reflection, thoughtfulness and empathy. Through reflection, thoughtfulness and empathy we clarify our purpose. Through reaching, trying and failing; by allowing ourselves to be vulnerable, we take bold action and build confidence. We often don’t get to choose life’s challenges, but we do have a choice whether or not we learn from them. Like a sharpening stone, the experiences of living either sharpen our sensibilities or they wear us down.
Thanks for reading.
--Brett F. Campbell, 2021
References
Aristotle. (2002). Aristotle Nicomechean Ethics. (S. Broadie, & C. Rowe, Trans.) New York: Oxford.
Bodhi, B. (1999). The noble eightfold path: The way to the end of suffering. Retrieved from Access to Insight: https://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/bodhi/waytoend.html
Riley, J. (2009). The master drummer DVD. Van Nuys, California: Alfred Music.
Ryan, R. M., Huta, V., & Deci, E. L. (2008). Living well: A self-determination theory perspective on eudaimonia. Journal of Happiness Studies, 9:139-170.
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