How I got over stage fright (C) 2020

Way back in the Summer of 2009, when the heat index was around a hundred and ten degrees, I would jog seven miles, from Clarksdale to Hopson Plantation.  I kept in mind, that if I was to pass out from heat exhaustion, or suffer a heat stroke, people probably would not find me for days. There were countless times, when I had to dig for the endurance and determination to make it. 

There was a time, with aid of #TonyRobbins #GetTheEdge Course, when  I had come to the point where I had to take an action to immediately to do what I wanted to do. I chose to be a musician. Yet there was one problem I had little guitar skills. I was frightened to go up on that Ground Zero stage and perform. Even worse I had really negative thoughts plaguing me. It made the stage fright that had not even happened worse.

I would think to myself such self-destructive things like, "What would they say? They would criticize me. I could never go out again with the horrible criticism. People are going to laugh at me all over town."

How would I meet the challenge of performing in the world renown Blues club #GroundZeroBlues of Clarksdale Mississippi? #TonyRobins taught me that the importance of affirmations. Sometime while serving in the US Army, I deduced that when the body is in a state of exhaustion things we do seep into our unconscious mind. Therefor, become quickly part of our conscious mind. 

After my seven mile jog, followed by a free weight workout, I would take a very hot bubble bath while I had headphones in my ears. I would practice breathing techniques as I would recite affirmations that #TonyRobins suggested, as well as a few of my own. 

I also practiced everyday.

A week and a half later, I performed at Ground Zero Blues Club's open jams on Thursday nights.

Many probably would not follow my extremes to overcome stage fright. The point is that if you want to start on some thing that intimidates you, you should do it. The use of affirmations every day as a daily routine has great benefits.