Being an athlete, an educator and performance coach, I realize how much performing we are doing on a daily basis.  When we have that competitive drive we try to be the best and forget the “having fun” part.  We then start to feel “stuck” and find ourselves in a cycle we can’t seem to get out of. 

Growing up I played all different kinds of sports, danced, and performed in events.  There was nothing that brought me more joy than to get ready for a sports game. 

Was it the friendships and connections that I had with my team?  Was it the high energy and adrenaline of the performance and competition?

Along with that joy came a lot of anxiety and pressure that I put on myself. Games, dance recitals and performances in general always made me nervous. I never wanted to disappoint and I wanted the perfect outcome.  

If my performance was not at my best, I would blame myself and it would create more worry and anxiety for me the next time.     

So much hard work goes into practice,  but you have just a short time to perform. We are so excited, yet full of nerves. Sometimes, all we think about is, 

“Will I make a mistake?” 

“Will I miss my penalty shot?”

  “Will I trip and fall when I am dancing?”

“Will I mess up my thoughts and words during my speech?”  

The list goes on and on. At times, there is so much on the line and that’s when we can get caught up in our heads. Instead of being present and having fun we worry about the worst possible outcome.  

   Another big part of performance, and specifically my own personal experience were the injuries, especially as an athlete. My anxiety and fear never had anything to do with the fear of getting hurt, but unfortunately it does happen.    

Coaching around injuries can be extremely powerful. It allows you the space to grieve the loss of energy, and the loss of passion, doing what you most love. It begins with awareness and acceptance. 

What’s the opportunity here? 

Taking action and changing perspective are just a few things that can help during this time. It’s all about the mindset shift. Coaching can occur as you slowly return after an injury or perhaps you are injured now and have a difficult time recovering. Afterwards, you might return to the same spot, or you may go in a different direction or even further.  With performance coaching, all of your answers lie within and the possibilities are endless.

  At this moment, it is a passion of mine working with athletes, educators, and other performers, even coaches, who find themselves in stressful situations that affect their everyday value of life.  Sometimes, it’s not just the sport, or the game, or the work itself but other blocks we may have occurring in other areas of our lives. 

Coaching can be powerful, as it was for me, and I look forward to sharing this gift with you!