First day jitters. Sweaty palms. Heart palpitations and crippling self sabotaging doubt – two words: stage fright. Not just for actors.

It’s normal to have a few butterflies now and again prior to doing something that’s important, something that may even be life changing. And, whoever says they never get nervous… don’t believe it! Some of us even get so utterly petrified about making the kind of brave moves needed for personal and/or professional advancement that we can actually freeze up, throw up or even worse: avoid stepping outside of the proverbial comfort zone altogether. Sound like anybody you know?

The good news.

Stage fright is absolutely 100% normal.

The bad news.

There’s no way around it, you’re going to be nervous. You may even vomit. Do it anyway.

If you evolve with a purpose (Hey, I’m going to be a pop star! I’m going to be a painter! I’m going to have my own design firm!) and then act your way to the life you want, you are going to be (like it or not) in situations you’ve never been in before (welcome entrepreneur, go-getter, dream-catcher…),and you may very well feel terrified and even nauseous, but DO NOT let those feelings stop you.

A swarm of butterflies and sweaty palms are not good reasons to put your dreams on hold or worse, give up altogether.

So how to handle it…

You don’t. You manage it.

You learn how to breathe properly; you learn how to relax. Yes, daily meditation is a good choice here. If you’ve never tried it, give it a whirl, I resisted for a long time too, but caved because it HELPS!! Guided mediations are great, lots on YouTube…

And then…

you practice, you prepare. You’re not going to fail if you’ve rehearsed. “But how do you rehearse for a first date or a job interview?” Good question. Answer: you get someone to role play with you and you walk through the scenario as if. Got it?

Prepare and rehearse a speech, a presentation, a special meal you want to impress someone with. If you’re in a creative field, practice your craft, don’t assume you know everything. The days of winging it are officially over.

LIST OF THINGS THAT CAN TRIGGER STAGE FRIGHT

Just about anything that is done in front of an audience, especially when all eyes are on you (singing a solo, giving a speech, presentation…)

Going on a job interview

Meeting your partner’s friends and/or relatives for the first time

Confessing

Confronting someone

Saying you’re sorry

Ending a relationship

Auditioning

Being the new kid

First date

Facing someone you haven’t seen in a long time (when the last time you embarrassed yourself so much you wanted to crawl under a rock and never come out)

Accept stage fright is normal.

Relax. Breathe. Rehearse.

And when it’s time for you to meet the in-laws, or sing your heart out in front of a big crowd, even though your palms may be sweaty, and those butterflies are dancing up a storm, you’ll know it’s normal and you’ll carry on.

Remember, you deserve to have a life you love!

Have you ever suffered from stage fright? Share your experience! Then check out this book: Feel the Fear and Do it Anyway.

Blessings.

XO, Linda