How Jazz Improvisation Can Help You Practice Better Self Care
Self-care has become a buzzword in recent years, as people have become more aware of the importance of taking care of themselves. But what exactly is self-care, and how can we practice it in a way that is effective and sustainable?
One often-overlooked way to improve self-care is through jazz improvisation. Improvisation is the act of creating something on the spot, without planning or preparation. In jazz, it’s the part of the music where the musicians take turns soloing, often playing off each other and building on each other’s ideas.
But what does this have to do with self-care? Simply put, jazz improvisation can teach us a lot about how to take care of ourselves. Here are just a few ways:
It Teaches Us to Be Present
One of the key aspects of improvisation is being present in the moment. When a musician is improvising, they have to be fully engaged with what’s happening in the music and with the other musicians. They can’t be thinking about what happened earlier in the day or what they have to do tomorrow.
In the same way, self-care requires us to be present in the moment. We can’t take care of ourselves if we’re constantly distracted by our phones or worried about something that happened in the past or might happen in the future. By practicing jazz improvisation, we can learn to be more present in our daily lives, which can help us be more effective in practicing self-care.
It Helps Us Find Our Voice
Another important aspect of jazz improvisation is finding your voice. Each musician has their own unique style and sound, and part of improvising is figuring out what that is and how to express it in the moment.
In the same way, self-care requires us to know ourselves and what we need in order to take care of ourselves. By practicing jazz improvisation and finding our voice in music, we can become more confident in expressing ourselves in other areas of our lives, including our self-care practices.
It Teaches Us to Take Risks
Improvisation is inherently risky. There’s no safety net, no script to follow. Every time a musician takes a solo, they’re putting themselves out there and taking a chance.
Self-care can also be scary and risky. It requires us to try new things, to put ourselves out there, and to take chances. By practicing jazz improvisation and learning to take risks in music, we can become more comfortable with taking risks in other areas of our lives, including our self-care practices.
Conclusion
Jazz improvisation may not seem like an obvious way to improve self-care, but it can teach us a lot about how to take care of ourselves. By learning to be present, finding our voice, and taking risks in music, we can become more effective in our self-care practices and more confident in ourselves overall. So if you’re looking for a new way to improve your self-care, consider picking up a musical instrument and giving improvisation a try!
