Performance mindset

You know that feeling of wanting something really bad?

That drive to accomplish something? A fire that builds you up and creates a rush of adrenaline so rapid that you can sense yourself in the exact moment of accomplishing that very thing? Like getting on stage and performing a number, acing an exam, or winning a 100 mile dash! Or even speaking about a project you've worked on, getting yourself to the gym, or just getting yourself out of the house...

Our minds do this incredible thing where we envision ourselves doing something great...big or small...normal or out of the ordinary...mind-blowing or just another regular move....but suddenly our body freezes.  We get to the moment where we are suppose to perform the action our mind drafted for us and suddenly, our physical self just...doesn't.

I call this a performance mindset with performance anxiety.  I've been doing this all my life.  I put an immense amount of pressure on myself because I get such a high from mentally imagining my success.  The feeling is so good that I know if I actually try to achieve it...and I fail...then I may not receive my successful feat; so when the moment to perform finally presents itself, I suddenly decide that the imaginary thought of success is better than screwing it up by trying.

Super cathartic, right?! Talk about a great way to oppress yourself.  Dictators would pay big bucks to take lessons from our draconian brains.  What I mean is that your brain can be incredibly insulting if you allow it to be.

Your brain will convince you to believe anything it wants you to believe.  In fact, anything you do is a direct result of your brain's instructions.  Reach for a glass of water - your brain orchestrated every move that was necessary for you to hydrate.  Now give a speech in public; that same brain should feed you with what you need in order to speak amongst your crowd, right?  What's the difference? Risk.

It's not so risky to reach for a glass of water.  In fact, it aids in your survival. Speaking in public, on the other hand, may come with some inherent risks. At some point, you were probably taught that if you don't do it well, you will be judged, or <insert favourite criticism>. Your brain took the lessons learned from that first time you programmed it to associate speaking in public with some degree of risk and is now applying that taught fear. So you get a high from thinking you want to speak in public but that taught fear suddenly taunts you from trying...right before it's your turn to take centre stage.

So how do we get our performance mindset to actually get us all the way through the performance act itself?! Practice. Practice leaving criticism at the door, out of your mind. If you truly believe there are many people out there criticizing you, then you certainly don't need to add another to that imaginary crowd. And that doesn't mean that you'll suddenly stop having criticizing thoughts. Just learn to recognize them...for example:

"Did my brain just tell me I suck? Oh, that must just be my own fear speaking...it's just a thought, on to the next thought I go."

As oppose to:

"Did my brain just tell me I suck? Holy crap I really do suck! This isn't worth trying; nothing good will come of it.  Must stop while i'm ahead. I should just sit back down and let the other people do it instead; surely they are better".   Aaaannnnd into the mental vortex you go.

The mental vortex is not where you want to be, so be kind to yourself.  Ok, so I said practice.  What else? Small steps.  If you tried to recognize your oppressive thoughts but still couldn't get through the act, give yourself credit for recognizing it.  If you do get through the act but it still didn't quite go how you would have liked? Give yourself credit for getting through it while your mind tried to get in the way.

And also, remember that your brain isn't doing this to you because it's cruel and it's trying to sabotage you (maybe the draconian reference above a bit much).  Our brains are trained to protect us.  They start their coding and programming long before we recognize or can remember.  Give yourself, and your brain, the credit you deserve because change is possible if you try.  Neuroplasticity is an incredibly beautiful thing.

From my couch to yours,

Sam