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Hello there, Merideth Hite Estevez here, your host of Artists for Joy Podcast. If this is your very first time tuning in, welcome, and if you’ve been around these parts for ages, then welcome back. This is one of our musical meditation self-coaching bonus episodes where I feature some of the music from the full-length episode before it and give you some questions or a visualization so you can go deeper with the topic. These episodes are meant to be little creative coaching boosters in your earbuds, so feel free to grab your journal and a pen, hit pause so you can answer a question I ask, or how about this idea? Share the show with a friend and answer the questions over coffee! How about that?

So last week’s episode was all about courage. I shared the 3 W’s that will help you become a more courageous, creative person. And each of today’s coaching questions will be centered around those…the Why, the Work, and the believing this game was designed to be Won.

But before we dive in, today’s music features a few movements of a piano sonata by Beethoven featuring pianist Raviv Leibzirer. Our theme song is by Angela Sheik. If you are a musician and have an album of original or public-domain music that you want to be featured on the show, you know I would love to hear it and feature you. Follow the link in the notes for how to write to me.

Speaking of the notes, you can simply swipe up wherever you listen to read these questions you’re about to hear, too.

After I read each question, I’ll share some music and give you some time to reflect. Try to be really honest with yourself. Read between the lines and even the words, like Claude Debussy or maybe it was Miles Davis said; in between the notes is where the music is…and sometimes there is more than what you are writing on the page that you are really saying. So listen deeply to all you are saying and not saying with these questions:

No.1: Name your why. What do you most dream of doing? What do you want your life to be like? How can your greatest gifts meet the world's greatest needs?

No. 2: Naming your why takes its own kind of courage, and so does doing the work. What is your current creative routine like now? Are you able to find a rhythm of consistent small acts of creative devotion and discipline? What are current obstacles getting in the way of you practicing your art form with consistency so you can feel that net of safety under you as you leap?

And finally, No. 3: Emily said something along the lines of “Zelda was a game designed to be won. The creators of the video game gave you a challenge, but in the end, they did want you to win, they wouldn’t have designed the game if they didn’t.” What do you believe to be true about the nature of creative work? If the metaphor of comparing it to a game isn’t helpful for you, what metaphor is? If you return to those questions around your way, do you believe that reaching your goals and living your dreams is possible? If you don’t believe that today, what roadblocks stand in your way?

I’ll be back next week with another episode. Until then, take good care.