Fear of Letting Go?

[William Farrell]

I have a most peculiar 'problem' to deal with right now. I'm a stage performer and recently, my career has really took off. I promote all of my own shows. For long enough, life has been a struggle, and now that abundance seems to be flowing, I'm scared to loosen up about things. It's kind of like I think that if I let go or relax (instead of the usual worry and anxiety) then something bad will happen.

For example, i have a stage show on tonight, I'm appearing to 300 people who are paying good money to see me. I'm feeling relaxed about it all and quite good about things, but the back of my head is trying to tell me that I need to put all of my attention on it and to focus on every possible outcome, and that if I dont, then something could go wrong.

Strange! Perhaps a common problem, any ideas folks?

Cheers

Bily 

PS. I realise this is my first post on the forum and I apologise for jumping in head first instead of contributing first. I will actively post from today onwards

[Kenton]

PS. I realise this is my first post on the forum and I apologise for jumping in head first instead of contributing first. I will actively post from today onwards

Hey, no problem. I hope the show went well. I'm sure I'm not the only one — they all seems a pretty supportive bunch here.

As to your ‘problem’ — sure something could go wrong. Stuff goes wrong all the time. If it does, you can handle it. And you can learn from it. I've had some pretty upsetting things go wrong in my life and I'm not sure I'd like to change any of them. The only problem with things going wrong is if you waste the experience and don't grown or laugh at it. Your worry has a great deal of positive affect — it makes you become better and better. However it's a problem if it distracts you and stops you living your life the way you want to live it then it's time to find ways to change your behaviour to something you desire more.

I'm sure others will have some even better wise words. I've learnt that things going wrong is only a matter of perspective. As Shakespeare wrote in Hamlet: “For there is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so” ... tis the same with problems.

A book I'd highly recommend is ‘Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway’ by Suzan Jeffers.

Kenton

[peter108]

Hi Bily
that's great that things are staring to work out for you. When you start off with a new venture like this it is common to put a lot of input into it and when things start to come together there is the temptation as you say to hold on tightly and not let go.
I found this came from the belief that I was the one responsible for whether it worked out or not.  I've since learnt that that is not the case. Whilst it requires you to get it going, it was not you who personally dragged them off the streets to get them in the theatre was it? Some other ingredient was working on that for you. Call that ingredient what ever suits you. Cosmic force, power of intention, God.
 I found that when ever I tried to hard and became desperate things would get worse. When I was doing well and I relaxed things did even better still! Ironic really. When I really needed sales I could not get them, when I was selling easily , they just keep coming.
Letting go and becoming relaxed is not the same as complacency! Be professional but let what ever is to happen happen, and remember you can learn valuable lessons from every eventuality, no matter how bad (some times the best lessons come from the things you would really rather not happen).
Good luck with your shows and have faith in life. It's only a story after all, your story, enjoy it!

Best wishes
Peter

[peterblythspain]

Hi I have just produced Boheme a group similar to el divo....here at a new theatre in spain,i had butterflies etc
remember lord olivier, whom i had the great privialage to meet said ,anyone whothout butterflies in the stomach before entering the stage isnt acting ! "
so try ,if the problem returns ,just closing your eyes and imagining a time you really had a good show..build the picture up in your mind and then squeeze your index finger and thumb together............then open your eyes.this is an anchor............then if the problem rears its ugly head again....just squeeze your finger and thumb again and this will fire the anchor...................
good luck
peter
ps send me deatils of your show by e mail and i will look at booking you for spain......