How to Stay on Track

For the last three days, I have been driving in heavy snow in Utah. As a youngster growing up in snowy Eastern Washington state, I learned how to drive on slick roads. When the back tires lose traction, this is called drifting. And while our tendency is to hit the brakes, hitting the brakes can have disastrous results.

​I used to be terrified of this loss of control. I later learned to manage this situation. And eventually, I even sought it out, because it became a fun challenge.

​Here's what changed—I learned that in order to safely drift, you have to counter steer. Doing this enables you to control your direction. How does this relate to the viola? I can explain…

Recently, I was talking to a group of young violists who were worried about their careers. I could relate. There are many times when I feel like my life is chaos and out of control. Sometimes, the chaos causes anxiety that is paralyzing. Other times, I feel like the chaos is taking me in a direction I don’t really want to go.

If I keep my composure and think about the direction I need to go, I can "counter steer" to get myself going in the direction I need to go. If I can remember to do that, I will be back on track to achieving my goals.

In other words, the goal is not to eliminate the chaos/drift, but rather to work with it. Embrace it and work to steer the direction. With practice, it becomes fun.

I challenge us all to embrace the chaos, decide which direction we need to go. The next time chaos strikes, or you feel overwhelmed, look at the road ahead and see if you can tweak your direction and use that momentum to get you closer to your goals.

Happy practicing,

Mick @ The Viola Pro