Feeding Joy

Let’s talk about food—not for your body, but for your spirit. For your voice.

 

For your creativity.

 

Because here’s the truth:

 

What you feed, grows.

 

What you water, nourish, and give attention to—that’s what takes root.

 

And the same way you can accidentally binge on potato chips and find yourself feeling sluggish and unsatisfied, you can also unintentionally feed your singing practice with things that don’t actually nourish you: perfectionism, comparison, shame, fear of not being “good enough.”

 

Yuck.

 

But the beautiful thing is—you can choose to feed something else.

 

You can feed joy. 

 

So many singers come to me feeling stuck, frustrated, or disconnected from the thing they used to love.

 

Why? Because somewhere along the way, their singing practice became about what they “should” do:

 

•  I should be singing more challenging material. 
•  I should sound more like [insert big Broadway name here]. 
•  I should be further along by now. 
•  I should push through, even though I’m exhausted. (See this A LOT. It’s hard to say no!)    

 

But joy doesn’t live in the land of “should.”

 

Joy lives in curiosity, connection, and authenticity.

 

Joy lives in the present moment, not the projected future.

 

 

What Are You Feeding? 🌱

 

When you think about your life—your lessons, rehearsals, auditions, your practice time—what emotions are you feeding most often?

 

Be honest. There’s no judgment here.

 

Let’s do a simple but powerful exercise:

 

 

✍️ Try This: The Joy Flip

Make a list of the negative thoughts or feelings that tend to creep in when you’re working on your singing.  (Be as specific as you can.) 

Examples:

• I feel anxious before I sing in front of others.
• I constantly compare myself to other singers.
• I’m afraid my voice will crack.
• I’m never satisfied with how I sound.
• I feel behind or like I missed my shot. 

 

Now flip each one.
Ask yourself: If this is what I’ve been feeding… what could I feed instead? 

 

Let’s look at those examples again:

 

What I’ve Been Feeding

 

 

Anxiety before I sing

 

 

Comparison to others

 

 

Fear of cracking

 

 

Perfectionism

 

 

Feeling behind

 

 

 

What I Could Feel Instead

 

 

Curiosity and grounding (What would happen if I just noticed how I feel and took a deep breath?)

 

 

Inspiration and self-compassion (Their voice is theirs. Mine is mine. Both are worthy.)

 

 

Playfulness and courage (Cracking is part of growing—it means I’m exploring!)

 

 

Progress and presence (What’s one thing I improved today?)

 

 

Trust in timing (I’m exactly where I need to be, right now.)

 

 

 

🎁 DOWNLOAD A FREE WORKBOOK OF THIS EXERCISE🎁

 

 

 

🎶 Feeding Joy in Your Creative Practice

Here are a few ways you can intentionally begin to feed joy in your singing practice, starting today:

 

1. Make space for what feels good.

Not everything has to be a challenge. What are the songs that light you up, even if they’re “easy” or “simple”?

 

What warmups feel like a treat instead of a chore? Start your practice there.

 

2. Celebrate small wins.

Did you sing for five minutes today when you almost didn’t?

 

Did you notice a new feeling in your breath?

 

Did you smile while singing? That counts. Celebrate it.

 

3. Talk to yourself like you would a student or a friend.

Would you shame someone else for cracking a note or not having perfect technique?

 

No? Then don’t do it to yourself.

 

Feed kindness. Feed encouragement.

 

4. Reclaim your WHY.

Why did you start singing in the first place?

 

Was it fun? Healing? Empowering? Emotional?

 

Tap into that original spark and revisit it often.

 

(That’s where making time for the songs that feel really good comes in handy!)

 

5. Connect with others who feed joy too.

 

This is where community comes in—classes, workshops, and circles where it’s safe to show up as your full, messy, wonderful self.

 

Where joy is contagious. (Psst: My Monday Night Singing Group is exactly that kind of space. 😉)

 

💫 Final Thoughts: You Get to Choose

 

You don’t need to earn joy.

 

You don’t need to master your voice before you’re allowed to enjoy it.

You are allowed to feel good now—and in fact, doing so will make you a stronger, freer, more radiant singer in the long run.

 

So ask yourself:

 

What am I feeding today?

Is it fear? Perfectionism? Pressure?

 

Or is it joy, curiosity, and connection?

 

You always have a choice.

 

And joy is always an option.

 

 

 

 

Want to begin feeding joy in your singing practice—right now?
✨ Grab your seat my FREE Joyful Singing Workshop! 

 

I love giving things away! 😃 Don’t forget your FREE Feeding Joy Workbook!