Anxiety is at it’s highest just before you take action.

For a penalty taker, it’s not the strike that’s hardest thing.

…it’s standing on the halfway line
…waiting
…thinking
…watching others go before you.

Research shows that even as you walk towards the penalty spot, anxiety reduces.

Why? You’ve taken action. You’ve got some kind of control.

For me, it’s just before I step out to deliver a talk.
The build-up the morning of it and then that moment I’m about to be introduced.

For someone talking or taking a penalty, if you fight, wrestle and try to push away that feeling, you’ll rush and allow fear to move from the backseat to the drivers seat. I've been there in both scenarios!

If you can accept it as part of the process (It’s there because it means something to you) you can slow down, trust your practice, remain present and connected.

You don’t need to be fearless to perform. Courage is performing whilst feeling that. You can’t get to courage without first being afraid.

The pressure fades when you move. When you act.

If there is something you can move towards today, just like the penalty taker walking towards the ball, do it.