Researchers studying the brain's neuroplasticity found that London cab drivers had a significantly larger hippocampus - the part of the brain devoted to memory and recall. Researchers learned that driving in London is extremely difficult, the city streets and roads are not built on a grid like other cities. Cabbies must adapt and remember the ins and out of all the roads. Infact, being a london Cabbie is so difficult they have to pass geography like a test called the The Knowledge test
The London Cab drivers helped researchers prove that the brain is malleable and can change according to how a person lives their life. This also helped prove that people could become happier, a negative person could become positive, and a stressed person could become relaxed.
In a nutshell, change, is, possible.
You're probably thinking, tell me something I don't know. There is an interesting little piece of info. Researchers also found that people with brains that exhibit a high degree of Neuroplasticity, are also very happy.
What am I getting at, is that Happiness has a direct effect on how much the brain can take in. So when I say "a happy musician is a successful musician" it's true. Your success and abilities depend on your happiness, not the other around. When musicians are happy, they are smarter, more motivated, and more open to change. It is scientifically proven happiness causes success and achievement not the other way around.
“How you think about yourself might be very important in creating yourself.” ― Shinobu Kitayama
One of the most important things you can do to be a successful musician; is to define what happiness is to you. I know playing music makes you happy, but that's not defining your happiness.
To help you define happiness, Ask yourself: 1.) Are you happy working towards a goal? 2.) What gives me a sense of well being? 3.) List the things that don't cost anything that makes you feel good.
Everyone's definition of happiness is different but, everyone should know what happiness is to them, to help them get where they want to be.
In the upcoming blogs, I will discuss how to use your definition of happiness to move forward as a musician.
Stay Happy!