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Overview

Sometimes life seems like a series of performances. The roles we play throughout our lives can be exhausting and difficult, such as parent or friend. Other times, it’s necessary to assume other roles that are just as demanding and stressful, such as entrepreneur or leader.

So, how can you stay motivated when performing a variety of roles? Well, that’s what this article seeks to help you with. It draws on sources from the athletic field as well as academic studies and will give you tips for staying calm and performing at your best.

In this passage, you’ll learn why pre-performance anxiety is sometimes a good thing and how to get rid of it. You’ll also find out that some people can be motivated by the spread of disease, and which song is the best motivation booster.

Big Idea #1: You can deal with performance anxiety by reappraising it and centering yourself.

The audition day has arrived. You’re going to sing and dance for a group of people you’ve never seen before. You’re so nervous that you feel like exploding.

There are many situations in which people feel anxious. For example, you may get nervous before a job interview or when preparing for a presentation. This type of anxiety is known as the fight-or-flight response because it’s caused by stress hormones that help us deal with danger. However, if there isn’t any real danger, this response can be inconvenient and even harmful to our health. It turns out that almost anything can trigger this response: an upcoming performance on stage or just about anything else you might find stressful at work or home.

But maybe you’re looking for a more passive way to relax.

One way to reduce anxiety is to reinterpret it. Alison Brooks first noticed this while auditioning for Princeton’s a cappella group, where she saw that excited singers performed better than nervous ones. Later, while pursuing her doctorate, she conducted a study in which people were told to do one of three things: say “I’m so excited”, say “I’m so nervous” or remain calm and not talk.

The author conducted an experiment to test his hypothesis. Participants were told that they would be speaking in front of a large audience, and their heart rates were monitored. Those who had the ability to reappraise their anxiety as excitement performed better than those who didn’t have this skill.

This technique is effective because it helps to reduce anxiety. Anxiety and excitement are two very different emotions, so transitioning from one to the other requires some effort. Centering can also be used to reduce anxiety. It’s a process that involves breathing deeply while concentrating on your physical center, which is just below your belly button. Once you’ve focused all of your energy at that point, release it. This will bring about calmness and renewed focus

Big Idea #2: Rituals and beliefs can improve your performance.

There are many ways to prepare for a performance. Some people meditate, while others like Carly Simon get spanked because it helps them overcome their stage fright. Regardless of what you choose to do before your performance, however, there is one thing that should always happen: consistency.

Athletes are aware of this and do what they can to prepare. They know that it pays off in the end. A sports psychologist, Stewart Cotterill, did a study on the effectiveness of athletes’ routines before a game. He analyzed their pre-game rituals and found that these routines were effective because…

The author found that rituals help athletes perform better. He studied golfers and basketball players who had rituals, like swinging the club twice or bouncing the ball a few times before they shot. Those with no ritual could learn one and expect to see results from it, such as better performance in their game.