Sing for the Joy of Singing

by Amanda Harvey

Sing for the joy of singing. If you want to live a more joyful life, one of the simplest and most effective ways is to be like a bird. Sing (or dance, or write, or paint) just because it feels good. Whatever the thing is that brings you the most joy in your life is your equivalent of birdsong.

For me, it is writing and speaking to people about living life fully and joyfully. This is what I love to do. It brings me joy, satisfaction, and a feeling of rightness. I am singing my song. It is what I am meant to do and I know that because it is the thing that just bursts out when I give it a chance to.

Are you singing your song? Or are you too worried about whether you are hitting the right notes, whether other people will appreciate your music, or that you ?should? be focusing on more serious pursuits? If you are not singing your song, freely, and just for the joy of singing, then your life probably doesn?t feel nearly as joyful as it could.

There are no right notes when it comes to allowing ourselves pure, joyful, creative expression. Have you ever noticed a bird singing off-key? It just isn?t possible. They don?t stop to wonder about whether their voices are too loud, soft, high, or scratchy. They just sing for the joy of singing and because it is as innate as breathing for them. In a way, they are blessed not to have human thought processes to make them question their natural actions.

When I write, I find that my best results come from the times that I am totally focused on the writing. If I worry too much about how people will respond to what I write, or whether my grammar and structure are correct, I become self-conscious and my writing becomes stilted and forced. When I write simply for the joy of writing, and because I have something to say, the words flow out. Not only is the process a joyful experience, but when I am finished, I feel great about the results.

When I have finished a piece of joyful writing, I can then go back and edit it. While we are creating is not the time to edit and censor ourselves. If you are singing your song only for yourself and the joy it brings you personally, then editing at all is unnecessary. However, if you want to share your song with others, then once you have finished the creative process, you can review the finished product. This allows you to fine-tune the little things that you skipped over in the joy of slathering paint on your canvas.

It doesnt necessarily detract from the joy of singing to keep your intended audience in mind. So long as it is not the main focus of your attention. Before I start to write, I think about the people that may read and benefit from what I want to say. This adds to my feeling of wanting to create, as I am not only writing for the joy of writing, but that joy may also create value for others. However, when I actually write, I focus just on the writing. If I end up with a piece of writing that I decide to share, then well and good, but if what I write turns out to be just for me, then I have still had the joy of writing it.

That is my goal- to write. Whatever happens after that is unimportant at the time of creating. If I allow the thoughts of whether people will like what I write, and whether I will gain financial reward or recognition from my writing, I am not writing joyfully. I am writing for what results it may bring me, and I am distorting the creative process by making it a means to an end rather than an end in itself. Not only do I lose the joy of creating for the sake of creating, but I am actually less likely to receive any external benefits from my work.

By putting 100 percent focus, energy and joy into the task at hand, we are far more likely to create something of genuine value and beauty. And the paradox is that we are, in return, far more likely to receive money, recognition and appreciation from our joyful creation than we would be if we had diluted our focus. When we sing for the joy of singing, others tend to enjoy our music too, and their appreciation can often lead to increased success and income. These external rewards are the cherries on top of the luscious ice-cream of joyful expression that we have already enjoyed.

So, sing for the joy of singing. You will absolutely, definitely reap the rewards of a more joyful life. And who knows, you may even get the cherries on top.

A native of Australia, Amanda Harvey is currently based in Taiwan. Working as a life coach, trainer, speaker, and writer, she has spent the last decade living in various countries throughout Europe and Asia. Through her work and life experiences, Amanda has developed a strong passion for encouraging others to embrace their differences and become empowered to choose their own paths. In all her work, the key message that Amanda endeavors to share is that there is always a choice, and that the only right way to choose life is your way. Amanda is the author of two books, and over 150 articles. To read more, please visit www.choosing-life-my-way.com