A Few Hours of Being a Beginner Again
Designed by BearmoreOnly doing the things you’re already good at?
Give yourself permission to be a beginner again. Take a day and try this Burst: it starts with a slow walk, then play an instrument, and finish with some stillness.
The runsheet
Ten minutes of breathing
Breath workStart here with a few rounds of slow, deliberate breathing to drop out of your head before anything else begins.
10 min activityBearmore’s thoughts on doing breath work before being in nature
This can be a good pairing because regulated breathing and any calm can enhance your sense of connection with the natural world.
A walk with no special destination
Being in natureWalk without a destination or a step count, slowly and a little aimlessly, and let where you end up surprise you.
60 min activityBearmore’s thoughts on doing being in nature before creating music
This can help because nature's restorative effects might leave music-making feeling more inspired, though the link is gentle.
Play it badly, but just play it
Creating musicAndré 3000 (who this Burst was inspired by) learned the flute in public with no plan to be good at it. Pick up an instrument you can't really play and make sound for its own sake. It doesn't need to be impressive or in public.
45 min activityBearmore’s thoughts on doing creating music before open awareness
There's a useful connection here because open awareness can integrate any emotions stirred up by creating music.
Fifteen minutes of meditation
Open awarenessThis last part is about pausing rather than chasing a result. Finish by sitting with no agenda and letting the music you made settle before you get on to other things in your day.
15 min activityTime well spent.
2h 30m spent doing something good for yourself.
The breakdown
Burst evaluation
Wellbeing focus
About this Burst
This Burst is about being a beginner again rather than following a documented routine, so you breathe, walk with no destination, play badly as a way to start working it out, then sit with the music you made. It's a reinvention day for anyone who feels locked into the person they've already become. No skill required, that's the whole point.