A king, seeking a way to manage both joy and sorrow, turned to a wise man for advice. The wise man gave him a ring inscribed with the phrase: “This, too, will pass.”

Why This Lesson Matters for Guitarists

In the world of guitar playing, we often experience extreme highs and lows. A flawless performance or the achievement of a musical goal might fill us with pride, while a missed note or a difficult passage can lead to frustration. However, both joy and sorrow are temporary states. The phrase “This, too, will pass” reminds us not to get too attached to either. Enjoying the highs without letting them inflate your ego, and handling the lows without letting them crush your spirit, allows you to maintain balance and perspective in your playing.

Risks of Not Embracing This Lesson

Ignoring the lesson of impermanence in your guitar journey can lead to several negative consequences:

1. Attachment to Success: If you become too attached to your successes, you risk losing sight of the process and your overall growth as a musician. This can lead to complacency or a fear of failure.
2. Frustration from Struggles: Focusing too much on the negative moments, such as struggling with a new technique or failing to meet a goal, can cause unnecessary frustration and anxiety. It may lead you to believe that your growth is stagnant, even though difficulties are just part of the process.
3. Burnout: If you don’t allow yourself to detach from the highs and lows of playing guitar, you might experience burnout, where the pressure of achieving perfection takes away the joy of making music.
4. Missed Opportunities for Growth: Every experience, good or bad, offers valuable lessons. By attaching too strongly to success or failure, you might miss the opportunities for learning that arise from both.

Unleashing Your Guitar Potential by Embracing Impermanence

Here’s how you can apply the lesson of impermanence to your guitar practice and performances:

• Celebrate the Wins, But Don’t Dwell on Them: Enjoy the moments when you finally nail a difficult solo or master a new technique, but don’t let those victories define you. Keep moving forward and look for new challenges.
• Accept the Struggles with Patience: When you struggle, whether with a tricky passage or with motivation, remember that these challenges are temporary. Embrace them as opportunities to improve rather than obstacles to your growth.
• Focus on the Process, Not Just the Outcome: The journey of becoming a better guitarist is ongoing. Shift your focus from results to the enjoyment of playing. Play because you love the process, not just to achieve a specific goal.
• Maintain Perspective: Whether you’re on a high or feeling down about a setback, remind yourself that both states are temporary. The key is to stay grounded and continue enjoying each practice session as it comes.
• Let Go of Perfection: Understand that perfection is an unattainable goal. Embrace imperfection as part of the beauty of music, and don’t let a single mistake derail your enjoyment or progress.

Conclusion

The Zen wisdom of “This, too, will pass” offers profound insights for guitarists. Success and struggle are both transient, and learning to embrace the full spectrum of experiences without becoming overly attached to any single moment can enhance your musical journey. Whether you’re riding a wave of success or battling frustration, remember that both will pass. By focusing on the present and enjoying each note you play, you can unlock your true potential as a guitarist.