ON NERVES

I have good news. You never have to be “nervous” again.

It is a fact that the physical sensation we consider to be “excitement” is the exact same sensation we consider to be “nervousness”. They both feel like butterflies in your stomach. It’s up to you whether you want to label this sensation as a positive or negative experience.

Take this example; two people are waiting in line for a rollercoaster. They are both feeling butterflies in their stomach. The first feels the butterflies and says, “I’m so excited. I love rollercoasters.” The second says, “I’m nervous. I’m afraid of rollercoasters.” It was the same feeling, but two very different reactions to that feeling.

So, from now on, when someone asks you how you feel before an audition, you say:

“I am excited, and am currently in the process of releasing some negative thoughts.”

There is great creative power in thoughts, positive and negative, so you must be very specific with how you word things, especially to yourself.

That feeling of excitement, of butterflies in your stomach, is there to help you. Without that adrenaline rush you wouldn’t be able to give the performance you want to give. Just like an athlete you need that energy to perform to the best of your ability. That energy in your stomach is what drives the scene, and it is the same electricity that connects you to your higher power.

Famed British Actress, Dame Judi Dench describes the sensation this way, “You use it, because fear produces adrenaline, which fuels the performance. It is batteries.”

All actors feel butterflies. Will you choose to label it as fear or excitement?