Finding Joy in Music Without the Pressure to Perform

Ever felt the itch to perform, only to be held back by self-doubt or expectations? What if you didn’t have to prove anything to anyone and could simply enjoy your craft, just for you?

Fresh off a beach vacation, I reflect on being invited on stage by a musician friend, and why I chose to stay in the crowd. Revisiting my days at Berklee College of Music, I explore how even top musicians like John Mayer don’t always follow the expected path, and how stepping back from pressure can help you rediscover pure enjoyment in your passion projects, whether it’s music, photography, or any creative pursuit.

“I enjoy the lack of pressure. I enjoy doing it for me. So if you’re a photographer, if you’re a videographer and you play music and you’ve got that urge to play more, just remember, there’s no pressure. If you want to do it for you, do it for you.”

Additional Resources Mentioned:

• Ultimate Guitar
• Smartless with John Mayer
• Berklee College of Music

If this episode resonated with you, share it with a fellow creative who might need a reminder: you don’t have to perform for anyone but yourself. Subscribe to Lenses & Lyrics for more conversations about balancing passion and pressure.

This episode of Lenses & Lyrics is brought to you by Imagen the AI post-production tool built for professional photographers. Whether you're culling hundreds of photos or editing full galleries, Imagen helps you get your time back by learning your style and handling the heavy lifting. That means less time behind the screen, and more time doing what you love, like growing your business or rocking out with your band. Check them out at lenseslyrics.com/imagen. Work smarter not harder with AI assistance and intelligent automation from Imagen. Try my black & white AI Profile for free and see how it works on your photos.