Just keep moving forward. Don’t give a fuck about what others think. You just need to do what is right for you.

Johnny Depp

Yesterday, at a team meeting, my team lead was talking about mantra that motivates her. She went on “… a mantra you say to yourself each morning when you wake up.” She started searching for some kind of reaction from anyone. But the room was silence. She elaborated ” … a mantra that reminds you why you are going to work. It reminds you what your purpose is.” I was sitting there listening quietly, thinking in my head. I already knew my purpose a long time ago.

However, at this stage of my life. I was more interested in dealing with my social anxiety. I was at my last job for 10 years (plus 4 months to be exact!). I went from working with just a team of 4, to dealing with a diverse range of people every day in a big organization. I went into this new role, struggling with self-doubt. This self-doubt was not only stem from uncertainty about my ability to perform. Imposter Syndrome? Anyone? But also from what others think of me.

These thoughts consumed me for most part of my day. To the point I became paralysed. This could go on for days.

And then one morning I was still in bed, feeling a little defeated from procrastination. I aimlessly scrolled up and down my Instagram feeds, I then saw this quote. It said it originated from Johnny Depp. How reliable was that source? When I heard a light switch flipped to -ON- in my head, it didn’t matter to me anymore. I became unstuck, right then and there.

Having said that, I understand mantra won’t ever remove my anxiety, but it helps me getting over the hump when I need it the most. In most situation anyway.

What about you? Do you worry excessively that you will do or say the wrong thing and that something terrible will happen, even in the most ordinary, everyday situations. What do you say to yourself to get you un-stuck?

Honestly, what is the worst that is going to happen?

Anonymous

I tend to overthink in everything I do. Not just at home. But also at work. The other day, I cooked up a content which I thought was fool-proof for an important group of customers. I spent hours working on the content. I went through online courses. I was ticking through every item in the checklist making sure it was perfect. Each point flowed on to the next seamlessly, logically and to the point. After 2 days of writing and re-writing, I was finally proud of it. I clicked the -SEND- button with a smile on my face. If I had taken a selfie of me at that moment, you would see a smug look on my face.

And what happened? I got a response back from The Comms manager. Sure the response was quick. But she rejected it. I spent the rest of the day going over her email reply. Trying to figure out the amount of time I had to spend re-working on something that I had already spent so much time on. I didn’t respond her. I spent the next few days thinking about everything but.

And then one morning, I got an email in my inbox. It was an article telling a story when a rat was standing right next to the cheese he was searching for. He started to overthink and freak out. He stopped looking for the cheese. It was ashamed because he was so close.

I am that rat in the article. Honestly, what is the worst going to happen? Get rejected and re-work again? So what? Once I asked myself that question, I started picking up the content and made it shorter and simpler. Took me less than an hour.

What about you? Do you find yourself working on something for so long and then to find yourself trying to get out of it? What did you say to yourself to get you unstuck?

Fuck it. Just do it!

Anonymous

When standing still at the point of no return, usually the point when I am about to launch into a work presentation, I would search for something to hold on to, so I don’t fall down and break into pieces. Or, I would just close my eyes, count to 10. Hoping that, when I open my eyes, everything would be over.

But the reality is, the show must go on.

How did I overcome my fear you might ask? Last year, when I was about to dive deep into the sea, I said to myself ‘Fuck it. Just do it!’ at the point I was about to jump. After I found myself underwater, the only other mantra in my head was ‘Remember to breathe!’ As my diving instructor would keep yelling over and over throughout the course.

Just like diving, the fear is usually the worst before the performance and it often goes away once you get started. Just remember to breathe, and you will be alright.

How about you? How do you overcome your fears and shine on stage, on the field, or at the podium?