Public Spark

No thoughts!

Sure thoughts are going to run through your head, but mostly you don’t want negative ones. If you tell yourself “I hope I don’t trip, I hope I don’t go off pitch, I hope I won’t miss the basket, etc..,” most likely that’s what’s going to happen. Instead if you are calm and don’t have these thoughts lingering, the possibilities are endless!

Self-talk: “I’ve prepared so I can do this”

Surely you are nervous because you want to achieve something. Therefore logically, you have done some preparation (hopefully) to get to this point. Which brings up the next point.

Trust yourself

On the day of the performance there’s not much more you can do preparation wise, then trusting yourself and giving it your all. Also, the body’s natural adrenaline can push you to your best performance.

Don’t talk with anyone prior to your performance

Most people are there to help, but sometimes they don’t help you. They make you more nervous because they are anxious. I like to have my own bubble and space. I guess I’m a diva.

Enjoy the experience

You’re lucky to be on stage, performing, or playing sports. No matter how small or big, it is a great experience. As nervous as it is, it’s fun!

Whatever happens happens because it’s an adventure

Life’s all about the unexpected. If everything were predictable, then life would not be worth living. Same goes with performances. There’s bound to be something unexpected. When you expect the unexpected then it’s not so bad.

Look at this as only one of many performances

In the worst case, if you “mess up” there’s always another chance. It helps you to grow.

Imagine the audience as merely a pumpkin, or something comical like a toilet

I love this one. When I was a kid, I would get so nervous I would freeze, but my mom taught me to think of them as objects then it’s less scary.

Know that you will be able to relax afterwards

Any nervous event is temporary. There’s time to relax later.

Go through a set ritual each time and improve

As you perform more and more you will begin to see what routine makes you comfortable. You can’t control completely what happens out there (for example, you can’t make sure no one is going to sneeze while you’re playing golf), but you can have a ritual to help you to be calm and perform at your best.