Monday, January 19, 2009

How do I feel?

Well, first of all, tired.  I just got back from training with Sifu Mike Marshall.  I have new insights, corrections, and motivation burning up my mind.

I have entered a level of soreness, that is starting to fade a bit, but I'm still sore nonetheless.  I am mainly discovering that when I have a commitment to meeting certain numbers of exercises that I don't make excuses.  I either consciously do what I set out to do, or consciously decide that I will let it slide on a particular day.  There is no sitting around thinking of reasons to not work out today.  As far as appetite, I am ravenous as always and I've added about five pounds.  My wife says my arms, chest and shoulders are bigger.

Dean asked for advice on performing with confidence.  I will share my secret with all of you now.  This goes back to high school, when I was sixteen and going to dances hoping to meet girls.  I knew that I couldn't walk around looking like I was feeling, which was shy and embarassed.  So I started developing my secret.  I carried it with me when I was a music student and had to perform in front of audiences who were sitting quietly waiting for me to pluck those strings on that guitar.  I carried my secret with me to Lost River Cave where I gave tours to strangers all day for years.  I still use my secret today when I get nervous.

The secret to my confidence is. . .

Lean in close and listen carefully. . .

Shhhhh. . .

I FAKE IT.

Yep, when I get nervous, I just pretend that I'm confident.  I walk as if I am, talk as if I am, breathe as if I am. . . Sooner or later my act becomes a fact, acting confident makes me feel confident.

Fake it, until you make it.

2 comments:

  1. At first I laughed when I read your secret. I was expecting an earth shattering explosion of wisdom on a monumental scale! The more I think about it though, it makes sense. I will try it and if it don't work, I'll try it again. Thanks for the advice and insight. I just hope I can become the worlds greatest faker before graduation!

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  2. Remember the wisdom from the Kung Fu Panda movie: "there is no secret ingredient." Or, if you prefer, "the secret ingredient is you."

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