When you're learning something new, whether it's a musical instrument or a new language, you'll be much more successful if your motivation is strong.
Identifying your ‘why’, the reason you want to develop this new skill, is a good place to start and will help you to stay connected to your goal when motivation begins to dip.
Learning something new can be exciting at first. There’s a sense of possibility, and every small achievement feels rewarding. But as the weeks go by, progress can feel slower. Practising may become more difficult to fit into a busy schedule, and it’s easy to wonder whether you’re really getting anywhere.
This is when your ‘why’ becomes important.
Your why is the bigger reason behind what you’re doing. Perhaps you want to learn Spanish because you dream of travelling through Spain and communicating with local people. Maybe you’re learning slide guitar because you’ve always wanted to play your favourite blues songs. Or perhaps you’re developing a professional skill because you want to open the door to a new career.
Whatever your reason, make it personal. A goal such as “I want to learn French” is useful, but “I want to be able to have a conversation with my French-speaking friends” gives you something more meaningful to work towards.
It can also help to write your why down. Keep it somewhere you’ll see it regularly - in a notebook, on your phone, or alongside your practice materials. When learning feels frustrating, remind yourself why you started.
Your why can also change over time. You might begin learning something simply because it looks interesting, then discover a deeper reason as you become more involved. Don’t be afraid to revisit your motivation and adjust your goals as you grow.
Most importantly, remember that progress isn’t always obvious. Learning is rarely a straight line. There will be days when everything seems to click and others when even the basics feel difficult. That doesn’t mean you’re failing. It means you’re learning.
So, before you begin your next learning journey, take a moment to ask yourself: Why do I really want to do this?
Find an answer that matters to you and let it remind you where you’re going when the journey gets challenging.
If you're on the journey towards learning slide guitar already, head over to the Learn Slide Guitar Facebook group for community and support. If you're new to slide, pick up your free Get Going with Slide Guide here and you'll be a confident player in just a few months. I have courses with options for everyone, so get in touch to find out more.
See you on the back porch!