Open the Flute Case

In my other life, I teach flute students. My students and I often talk about the importance of practicing and how to practice. Many times the students will come back to me and say "I didn't get time to practice!". Balderdash! (that's polite language). Time is not the issue. Overcoming inertia is. Remember Newton's law? Newton stated a body in motion stays in motion, a body at rest stays at rest. How does that apply to my flute students? Well, if they're not practicing, it takes a lot of energy to redirect themselves, get the flute out and start playing. Like any other new desire in life whether that be starting an exercise routine or studying for an important exam or changing a habit: if you're not already doing what you want to be doing (a body in motion stays in motion) doing something new will require a conscious amount of thought and energy (a body at rest stays at rest).

In today's world, there are many, many things which compete for your time and attention. Adding another thing to an already overflowing life is almost a guarantee to push you into complete inertia. You'll know you've been pushed over the edge when you find yourself vegging in front of the TV watching "Inside Edition" or reruns of "The Three Stooges" or mindlessly munching potato chips till you reach the bottom of the bag or checking, rechecking and checking again your e-mail a thousand times a day.

As an aside, a great wisdom is contained in the phrase "nature abhors a vacuum". If you create a void in your life, i.e. clear out some space, something else inevitably will enter to fill that void. That's a thought for another time. Back to getting a body at rest to be a body in motion.

Hmmm, trying to change from inertia to movement sounds overwhelming and possibly pointless. Enthusiasm and hope may often turn to discouragement and depression at this point.
It probably seems easier to stay inert. Well, you're right about that-it's much easier to maintain whatever current state you find yourself in. It's always harder to move yourself to a new place. Quite the dilemma then: how to move from one to state to another.

My solution? I tell my flute students: Open the flute case. What???!!! Yes, open the flute case. That's Lauraspeak for just start. Do something. Anything. It may seem inconsequential, maybe simplistic or even totally ridiculous, but taking action, any kind of teeny, tiny action signals your nervous system that you want to move from a body at rest to a body in motion. And your body responds to action. Your body is all about movement. So move towards what you want in any non-harmful way possible. All of my students can open their flute case.

I challenge you: what one extremely simple thing can you do to move towards a new goal? What no-brainer, seemingly ridiculous inconsequential action can you take today? Right now? How can you, to use my analogy, open your flute case?

In Health,

Laura