mind: find your unique path to success with ariane paras
The music industry has been though some monumental changes in the last eighteen months. No one could have predicted what lay ahead and whilst for some it’s been a time of creativity and reflection, for others it has been one of the biggest challenges that they have faced. Many artists are extremely open and sensitive, they share their inner vulnerabilities through their music and the art that they put out to the world. They then let that art go, falling in to the hands of anyone that it may resonate with. For that, creativity is so important and so are the artists that selflessly create it.
Meet Ariane Paras, a life & career coach and founder of Olympia Coaching. She helps artists and music professionals find clarity and direction as well as feel more focused and confident. Helping people to reach their potential and drive towards success. With fifteen years experience in the music business and hundreds of coaching hours under her belt, she empowers her clients worldwide to create a life they love. Her mission is to make a positive impact on the music industry by helping transform it from the inside out.
After working in the music industry for a long time, why did you decide to become a life coach?
Music is my first love and having the opportunity to work with artists at UK labels or as a senior booker for a five thousand capacity venue was a dream come true. I’m so grateful for those experiences. Following my spiritual awakening many moons ago, my understanding of reality and what it means to have this human experience started to shift. I became fascinated by all things personal development and I really wanted to share what I was learning and help others on their journey.
My job as a promoter, which had been so exciting and fun, started to feel meaningless and unfulfilling. My soul was tugging at me to make a change but I felt completely trapped, helpless and stuck. Until I decided to answer the call and take the leap, train as a professional coach and embark on my new adventure to guide and support music industry folks so they can create a life and career they love
What do you think that the music industry can learn from the wellness world?
Let’s be honest, socialising and having a good time is one of the perks of working in music and traditionally it has been a culture of working hard & playing hard. When you have easy access to a free bar and other naughty stuff and you find it hard to say no, it’s easy to lose your balance. I literally lost my balance in a big way when I flew off my bike after one of those nights over-drinking… not recommended. Also, people in music tend to be ambitious and many strive to reach success, sometimes to the point of burnout.
The thing is, you can’t perform at your best if you don’t stay mentally, emotionally and physically healthy. In order to be creative and productive, you need to take care of yourself. Self-care is, ultimately, self-love. It’s great to see that the culture is evolving: working in music and looking after yourself are not mutually incompatible and it will contribute to your success and happiness.
How do you think that the pandemic has helped to create more balance for musicians?
The flipside of being unable to tour is that it gives musicians the time and space to reevaluate priorities and what’s important to them in their lives. It’s an opportunity to think about how you can create a more sustainable career for yourself, one that is not so reliant on intensive touring. Many have exercised their creativity in new ways, through masterclasses, membership communities or other avenues.
There is still a lot of uncertainty and anxiety in the air and many things are coming up to the surface for us to heal. James Blake said in an interview that he had realised how he had been linking his self-worth to being productive and being on the road. How many of us do this too? Know that you are worthy, no matter what. This is a time of letting go of what no longer serves you and transforming in new ways, a time for doing the inner work so you can respond, rather than react, to the challenges brought on by the pandemic.
““Your sensitivity is to be cherished.””
How can we take what’s happened over the last twelve months to create new parameters for when the world starts to move again?
No one really knows what the future is going to look like but my guess is that things will be quite different. As we know, change is the only constant, so being flexible, developing trust, empowering yourself and learning to adapt are essential qualities to develop in order to navigate the next few years.
The necessity to future-proof your career is becoming clear to many people in music. We are all interconnected and interdependent, so how can we create a stronger music ecosystem for all? How can we embody a different set of values, where sustainability, wellbeing and cooperation are at the root of our decisions? How will you define success for yourself, if like Eckhart Tolle says, success is a successful present moment?
One of the reasons that artists are so talented is because they are sensitive. What tools are there available for anyone who wants to understand how to manage this?
Your sensitivity is to be cherished. Having access to a wide range of emotions and experiencing the world more intensely makes life and your art so much richer. Emotions are energy in motion: accept them without creating a story around it, process them and channel them into your art, so the energy gets released instead of staying trapped in your body. Remember that you are not your emotions: you are the awareness behind it, the observer of your emotions.
If you’re going to be exposed to a challenging or overwhelming environment or situation, ask yourself what you need to feel grounded or safe. Do you need some alone time? Which boundaries or expectations do you need to set? How can you tweak your environment to feel more peaceful (in terms of lighting, scents, sounds)? Which activities or practices help you rebalance?
What is a self-care routine and how can you implement it?
The best self-care routine is the one you will implement, not out of obligation, but because you love doing it. Find what works for you. The mind and body are connected, what happens in one affects the other. The foundations of a good routine include exercising, having enough quality sleep, meditation, healthy nutrition, enough breaks and time off, and processing your emotions. Introduce new positive habits one by one, and notice how it makes you feel, so you create positive reinforcement until the new habit sets in. My morning routine (yoga, meditation and breathwork) really sets me up for the day and makes such a big difference in my wellbeing.
Also, pay attention to the content, thoughts, habits or people that elevate, energize or inspire you and the ones that drain or disempower you, or make you feel anxious or depressed. Make informed, conscious choices about where you invest your time and energy.
For anyone who is wanting to take their career to new heights, what advice can you offer?
Get clear on what’s important to you in your career and what you need to feel happy and fulfilled. Set specific goals and an inspiring vision for where you want to be. Work on your mindset so you can overcome self-doubts, fears, procrastination or the negative voices inside your head. Double-down on your strengths and what’s already working. Take bold action and get out of your comfort zone.
Finally, invest in yourself (through coaching, mentoring or uplevelling your skills) - you are your number one asset. We transform our external reality by transforming ourselves first. With that comes responsibility and also so much power.
connect with ariane and find out more…
Get free resources to help you thrive in the music industry: https://olympiacoaching.com/the-olympian
Book a free consultation: http://bit.ly/2p0SDO7
