विवरण
For all the singers and performers who are frustrated that their anxiety is sabotaging them on stage - please listen.
I know you just want it gone. I’ve been there.
But your frustration assumes that the logical, rational adult part of you who knows that performing on stage isn’t a matter of life or death is the one who is shaking like a leaf up there.
They’re not.
When you go into a fight, flight or freeze state, you lose most of your access to that rational part of your brain and can’t talk yourself off the ledge like you can when you’re cool, calm and collected.
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So who IS in the driver’s seat?
Your nervous system is responding to a past memory where a similar situation was perceived as a threat.
For some this is a performance or presentation that went poorly when they were young.
They might see that incident as humiliating, stressful or scary.
For others it’s the reminder that they were “too much” or “too loud” or “too expressive” in their past.
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When you shame yourself for being afraid or being “overly dramatic” in the present, it perpetuates this cycle.
This younger part of you needs to know that no matter the outcome, it is loved, accepted and enough.
This requires a complete pivot from the frustration and “I need to get rid of this” energy that most of us have with stage fright.
It requires your compassion, building your capacity to allow the sensations to be present in your body and doing what you can to soothe this part’s fear.
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I know your inner overachiever may roll their eyes at the “babying” nature of this approach, but trust me, it is the kindest and fastest way to transform your relationship to performing.
AND will have knock on effects to your self-trust, confidence and resilience as a musician.