Learning To Like Yourself

This is one of the hardest things to ask anyone to do, especially if that person is a songwriter, but it is one of the most important if you are to succeed in such a difficult field. Here are a few things you can do to help yourself in this area, and you may find you suddenly are getting a lot more songwriting done as a result.

SURROUND YOURSELF WITH LOVE

In a talk to the Austin Songwriter's Group I attended a few years back, singer/songwriter Kinky Friedman told us all that we should create "The Church of Me." We all laughed, but he had a good point-if you don't love yourself, and surround yourself with loving, supportive folks, it is hard to make it as a songwriter. Even if you are single and on your own, you still need to keep close ties to friends and fellow writers who will be there for you with a good pat on the back or kick in the butt when you need it to keep you going when things get rough. True, you can get a false sense of self-worth if you surround yourself with sycophants who will worship your every move, but it you make it a point to hang around with people who will build you up and not tear you down, especially when things aren't going too good, you will notice a marked improvement in the number of things you get done, and probably the quality of these accomplishments as well. Even a loyal pet helps, especially if it is one who enjoys your music. I found I liked even practicing on my porch facing the woods behind our apartment, since the local birds, as well as my pet cockatiel, seemed to like singing along with some of my tunes, and that at least gets me to chuckle and practice my folk tunes, even though I am tired of playing acoustic of late. The important thing is to try to be around people or critters that enjoy your company and your talent, and let them tell you that they like you and that talent. Get your needed 4 hugs a day, even if it's just you hugging your cat, and enjoying its happy purr. We all need to be heroes to someone so we can have the incentive to do more heroic stuff. Let others love you.

PROVE YOU LOVE YOU

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