Showing up

Competition season can be stressful for physie participants and their support crew. Performance nerves are common and there are many strategies that can help.

One strategy is exposure. I have done a lot of performing and it has helped me understand that mistakes are part of being human, so I strive for growth instead of perfection.

I also have to admit that physie is low stakes for me. Placing or not placing does not affect my reputation. What matters is sticking with a hard task even when I am not naturally strong at it. The truth is that physie is a friendly competitive sport and I am here to learn, not win, although medals are a bonus.

Physie improves cardio fitness, flexibility, strength and coordination. It is also good for your brain. It builds soft skills such as resilience and persistence.

You are still allowed to feel nervous before, during and after competitions. You are allowed to enjoy the hobby even when it challenges you.

Some other strategies I have written about include visualisation.

I am proud that I will keep showing up