To Every Musician Who Feels Like Giving Up: Read This

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I know what it feels like to want to quit.

I’ve been a professional musician for over 10 years, and there were many moments when I thought I wasn’t good enough. When the criticism cut too deep. When the failures felt endless. When I tied my entire self-worth to my music—and came up short.

If I could go back and speak to my 21-year-old self, who was terrified of not being enough, here’s what I would tell him:

“You’re going to fail. You’re going to doubt yourself. But it’s going to shape you into someone stronger than you ever imagined.”

Here are the lessons I wish someone had told me back then:

1. Critics Will Hurt You—But They Won’t Break You

Not everyone will understand your art, and not everyone will like it.

Even if you have a thousand fans, it’ll be the one voice of criticism that echoes the loudest. It’s human nature to focus on what hurts the most.

But criticism is not the enemy. It’s proof that you’re doing something bold. Something worth talking about.

Let the critics remind you of your passion. Let them sharpen your skills. But don’t let them convince you to stop. Because the world doesn’t need another silent voice—it needs yours.

2. Success is Fleeting—Find Meaning Beyond the Spotlight

Early in my career, I chased success like it was everything. I thought if I could just achieve this one thing—a certain gig, a certain audience, a certain recognition—it would fix everything.

But here’s the truth: success is temporary. It comes and goes like waves.

If you tie your happiness to the highs, the lows will crush you. But if you find meaning in the journey—in the process of creating, learning, and growing—no failure can take that away from you.

3. Failure Will Shape You in Ways Success Never Can

No one told me that failure could be a gift.

When I made mistakes early in my career, I didn’t see them as lessons. I saw them as proof that I wasn’t good enough. My reaction?

• I’d get angry.

• I’d complain.

• I’d sink into disappointment.

But failure isn’t a reflection of your worth. It’s a reflection of your willingness to try.

And the more I failed, the more I learned. Failure taught me how to:

• Stand back up when the world knocked me down.

• Be patient when success didn’t come quickly.

• Reflect deeply and adjust my path.

Failure is painful. But it will be the greatest teacher of your life if you let it be.

4. Music Doesn’t Define You—It Reveals You

For years, I believed my value as a person was tied to how perfectly I could play. If I messed up, I felt like I didn’t matter.

But music is not a measuring stick. It’s a mirror.

It shows you who you are. It helps you process the world. It connects you to others in ways words never could.

Music has taught me how to listen—not just to melodies, but to people. It’s made me a better friend, a better partner, a better teacher. And most importantly, it’s taught me that my value isn’t in how perfectly I perform, but in how deeply I live.

So To Every Musician Who Feels Lost

Here’s what I want to remind you of:

Life won’t turn out the way you expect. There will be more bad days than good ones. You’ll question yourself, your choices, and your future.

But those bad days will shape you. They’ll teach you resilience, patience, and grit. And when the good days come, they’ll mean so much more because of what you’ve endured.

Your worth isn’t tied to how many songs you’ve written, how perfectly you play, or how many people applaud. Your worth is in the fact that you keep going.

So please don’t give up. You have time. You are enough. And you are not alone.

Some Food for Thought

If you could go back and give advice to your younger self, what would you say?

Write it down. Reflect on it. Then use it to guide your next step forward.

And if you’d like, send it over to me on instagram, X, LinkedIn or email. I’d love to know and hear about your journey.

And just on that…

If you’re feeling stuck, lost, or unsure, I want you to know that you’re not alone.

I built this newsletter to create a space where musicians can share their struggles, find connection, and grow together.

If this resonates with you, send me a message. Let’s talk about your journey—your fears, your hopes, and everything in between.

Because music isn’t just about playing notes. It’s about finding yourself in the silence between them.

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