https://nathanpeterson.net
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13 years ago I lost my voice on stage. It happened to be my first gig after jumping full time into my own music. Up to that point, I had always struggled with my voice. But losing it that day, on what felt like the inaugural performance of my big new chapter, felt devastating. I spent next 13 years learning from that one experience. The lessons I've learned are not only about my physical voice. They're about my big-v Voice — about how to be who I am in the world. I'm going to share these…
When you feel overwhelmed, slow down. I know this might feel like the exact opposite thing your system wants to do when you feel overwhelmed. But it's not... What if the feeling we associate with overwhelm is actually a message, sent by our system, asking us to please slow down? And what if the negative outcomes we associate with feeling overwhelmed are actually a result of ignoring that message—of working harder and faster and more frantically instead? I have a saying I throw at my children…
Every day I go on this walk. And every time I start the walk, I say these words out loud: I am inviting life to flow through this body—unrestricted, unlimited, unattached, uninhibited, without pushing and without holding back. One thing I'm learning about life is that it's always moving. Nothing that is alive isn't moving. And sometimes this is really frustrating. Like when I can't get my kids to sit still. Or my plans not to change. Or for people to act the way I expect. But if it's alive,…
There is a current. It may seem impossible to feel. Especially when life seems chaotic. When life seems chaotic, parts of us spring into action. Other parts of us hide. Other parts of us get angry. All of these parts are bracing against—trying to change what is in order to feel safe. We just want to know that everything's going to be okay. Everything is going to be okay. But not because you spring into action. Or hide. Or get angry. It will be okay because there is a current. Let yourself…
Surrender can come as a result of loss. You lose a battle, and you surrender. You lose a job, a friend, a child, and you surrender. Losses in life eventually bring us all to a point of surrender, even if that point is our very last breath. But surrender doesn't only follow loss. It can come any time. With any breath. It can happen right now. The paradox is that whenever our moment of surrender comes, it doesn't feel the way we expect. We may realize, despite the tragic or challenging…
Take just one minute for yourself. Right now, wherever you are. Pause, and notice — what is actually happening? Use your senses — sense down into your feet, or your chair. Into the ground that is holding you up. Into the earth which holds the ground. Into the universe which holds the Earth. Notice what's actually happening. You are being held up right now, supported by everything. Notice your breath. No matter what has happened in life — your whole life, and still now — your breath has never…
I made a New Year's resolution on January 1, 2026 that I couldn't keep. I resolved to stop worrying. I've made resolutions and kept them before — things like exercise and diet. This worry resolution seemed like the best resolution I could make this year. I kept it a couple of days. I did pretty well for the first couple of weeks. Somewhere around February or March I fell off the wagon completely. And now, in May, I think I understand why. Why are resolutions so hard to keep? Especially when…
A few years ago, I was speaking at a conference for people who had experienced the loss of a child. At one point during the conference, I was looking out into the room and saw something that surprised me — and I've thought about it ever since: I saw 1,000 people who were pitied by the world in which they live. 1,000 people who no one would ever wish to trade places with. 1,000 people who many might view as "damaged goods"... But that's not what I saw. I saw 1,000 people who were open. Yes, open…
Music, art, and togetherness are needed today more than ever. Here's a quote from a conversation I recently had with a top voice in the global scientific community: "The world needs more music and art together to meet the crises of our times. There may be no more direct pathway to better health and community, and no more enjoyable one as well." — Dr. Dacher Keltner, on Music in Residence Professor of Psychology at UC Berkeley, founding director of the Greater Good Science Center, and scientific…
I attended a beautiful concert by Sara Beth Thomas in a friend's home this weekend. During her intro, she mentioned a familiar picture: an artist playing their heart out in the corner of a club while no one paid much attention at all. As she played, I watched a room full of people 100% tuned in, 100% giving and 100% receiving. And as I sat there, I pictured Sara Beth playing this exact same concert in the corner of that club — no one in the room aware of the treasure, the gift, she was…
on moving from pressure to play
on losing our hope
trust the current
