David had been working with us and I was in a state where I was free in my body and mind was thinking constructively. Alive to what I was doing and how I was doing it. David invited me to get out my guitar while he was working with another student at the piano. I'm still integrating the revelation I received from Bill Conable two weeks ago regarding the use of my right arm & hand.
David questioned me at to why I did something in a particular way. I responded that I was bring the guitar to the body, not bringing my body to the guitar which is a very valuable principle taught to me in Guitar Craft. As I began to bring my right hand back to the guitar, my old habit asserted itself and there I was telescoping my right arm to bring my hand into position. I showed this to them and marveled at how easily this habit came out, after I have been so careful recently.
I then demonstrated the usefulness of my "old way" of using my arm and hand because I can get greater volume and hence have a broader range of dynamics available. And then quite by accident I discovered that the difference in maximum volume I could attain in either position was negligible. How or why I never discovered this early escapes me. Perhaps when I was using my right hand in a position that I knew was better for my long term health, I did not want to find out how much power was available to me. Then I would not need to do the work of letting go of the habit and cultivating the awareness and diligence to undertake this. Who knows. But I did fit the information to support my habitual use. In other words I lied to myself. Years have been lost where this had not needed to be so and the recent suffering from tennis elbow may never have manifested.
Of course when I took out my guitar at home and went to investigate this further, at first I could not or perhaps would not attain the greater volume. Persistence of habits is so strong and even terrifying. I also know that a practice based on principle and intention can allow habits to be transformed. C'est la vie. Now my lie has been exposed to me and to you. What's next?
