Do What Gives You Goosebumps
Do you know what makes your heart sing?
What lights you up? What makes your heart sing?
Or as I like to say, what gives you goosebumps?
A long time ago, I was studying with a legendary jazz drummer named Jeff Hamilton. He’s an incredible player and a heck of a nice guy. I’ve recently gotten back in touch with him and it’s been fun to see my old self (now) and remember what it was like to study with him.
One memory I treasure now and almost did at the time was during one of my last drum lessons with Jeff way back when. I was just warming up and I started playing a funky groove I was working on likely inspired by The Headhunters.
Jeff looked at me with a bit of a smirk of confusion and said, “I'm not sure your jazz playing is helped by this other music you're learning.” My heart sank and I turned to get out my notepad for the straight ahead jazz lesson we’d planned.
To Jeff’s credit, he had the wisdom at that time to say, “Dave, what’s most important is that you do what gives you goosebumps.” He said a few other encouraging things but that phrase always stuck with me.
It was one of those life lessons, a small phrase, uttered at the exact right moment such that it became a life lesson.
His point was that it was important to do what really resonated for me. If I’m into funk or rock drumming, I should pursue that. The music industry is just too hard to play music you don’t love because when times are hard, it’s important that you have the love and passion to follow-through with what you most care about.
He was also saying to listen to my heart and to find my own way. It’s important to say now too that feeling is not always literal goosebumps. For me it often is, but for others, they just have a feeling that things are right. They feel aligned in their direction and are clear about what excites them. You just know that something is really clicking.
I’m encouraging you to remember these signs of alignment and follow your own muse. A few coaching questions:
What activities make you feel alive and give you energy?
What are the times you feel like you are on the right path?
What circumstances or situations make your heart sing?
Take these moments cues and tap into what's working. Notice the resonance that's happening within you.
Can You Hear Your Own Harmony?
Let’s stay with our music theme for a minute. I believe our bodies are like musical divining rods that began to vibrate when we feel we are aligned with our mission in life. It might be something simple like taking a walk outdoors, eating a special meal, or visiting a friend.
It might also be when we are learning something new that is really special to us.
Maybe this sounds a little “woo woo”, but I think it’s rather practical.
Consider the relationships in your life and how love feels? We just know certain things are right for us and how important those things are. And yet sometimes we deny ourselves the time or energy to follow our own muse.
We can even second guess the moments we end our “flow state” and wonder if we should now do something more productive. Instead, I’m encouraging you to give yourself permission to take a few breaths and notice your own bodies harmony. See if you might locate a few of your very own moments of resonance (and maybe even some goosebumps).
Sometimes thinking back to your childhood or bliss experiences in your school years can be helpful if you are having trouble coming up with a few moments. However you find the gold, I truly believe it is worth the search!
Make sure and take a few notes and ask yourself what was so special about that memory.
Please let me know in the comments if this is helpful. I’d also love any sharing on what gives you goosebumps and how they show up for you.
I had some goosebumps yesterday working on a new song I’m writing.
As always, reach out if I can help you.
