I used to think I thought a lot. I was wrong.
What I thought was thinking about my life was, in reality, obsessing over a deadline or dreaded task or spinning through laundry lists of action items.
What I now know to be thinking consists of stepping beyond the day-to-day motions of doing and feeling, sitting still, asking myself tough questions, and then wading through the initial glib reactions to my core responses.
Asking myself carefully targeted questions keeps me focused on the big picture… and how to best get there.
Some of My Recent Queries
For exercise and well being:
• Am I consistently following an exercise regimen and diet that will keep me in form to sustain a vigorous performance career?
• Do I feel good in my body?
• What eating/posture/lifestyle habits have I developed that do not serve my optimal health?
For (all) relationships:
• Who are my most beloved friends/family, those I would feel comfortable calling in any emergency? Have I connected with them in the last month? If not, why not?
• How have I demonstrated appreciation and affection for those I love? In what other ways can I express these feelings?
• When I am hurt or annoyed by someone, where in my life am I mirroring their behavior?
For my art:
• Who do I want people to see reflected through my art?
• How do I most enjoy expressing myself as an artist?
• What do I need to learn or do to take my art to the next level?
For spirituality:
• What have I read or experienced lately that brings me beyond my own existence to the vast interconnectedness of life?
Some of my most enjoyable (and occasionally painful) moments stem out of such thinking sessions. And interestingly, I have noticed that the more time I set aside to reflect on questions such as these, the more successful I am when I do move to action.
Hmm. That’s something to think about.
Ms. Dewberry, an accomplished cellist, completed her DMA in Chamber Music Performance from UCLA in December 2005. She received her MM in Cello Performance from UCLA in June 2002 and her B.M. in Cello Performance from Western Michigan University in April 1998. She also holds a B.A. in French with a minor in Women's Studies and Philosophy.
Ms. Dewberry is celebrating the release of her latest album, “Origins.”
Her website is www.carterdewberry.com
She may be contacted at carter@carterdewberry.com
