I received a Love flute music CD in the mail, which was a pure expression of joy. Though discerning listeners might notice that the CD doesn’t conform to the standards of “good music,” the enthusiasm and joy in the playing overcome this limitation. The Native American flute is helping to free many of us from the habit of evaluating and criticizing everything, including ourselves. The Indian flute can help us break free from our self-critical behavior patterns.
Why can’t we simply relax and have fun? Why are we so hard on ourselves? The current culture of correctness and perfection can rob us of the joy of life. Playing the Indian flute or expressing ourselves in other ways should be based on freedom from the fear of criticism, especially self-criticism. Otherwise, we are constantly living in the spotlight, where everyone is scrutinizing us. And if we don’t get it right, there is a price to pay – our self-respect. Holding ourselves up to impossible standards or other people’s expectations means that we are always setting ourselves up to fail. When we are overly self-critical, we are living under a cloud of our own making, one that we didn’t create.
This habit of self-criticism often starts when we are children, constantly receiving criticism for our performance. Life is a learning process, and we need the freedom to make mistakes without the fear of criticism. No one gets it right all the time, or even most of the time. We practice, practice, practice until we end up hating what we’re doing. We become skilled at it, but we no longer find joy in it. So, what’s the point?
Are we in tune? We can become so obsessed with being in tune that we lose touch with joy. Making a fetish out of playing it right is like expecting the sun to shine the same way every day. “That’s the way it should shine,” say the purists. Not too bright, not too dull, just so. What if I like it a little brighter? What if I don’t care? Can anyone set rules for the perfect sunny day?
When we give others the right to play any way they please, with an open heart, we free ourselves from our own self-criticism. Life is a circle of such variety that there is room for every person and every song. Let the breath of life flow through your flute into a receptive world. You can change your life, and maybe even the world, one song at a time.
Manuel Marino is a seasoned Senior Producer, Music Composer, and Artist with over a decade of experience. He specializes in branded entertainment across various mediums, including video games, films, and advertising campaigns. With 20+ years as a game music composer, Manuel has worked on numerous platforms, creating diverse orchestral soundtracks. HIRE ME