Can you really have your cake and eat it too? Of course you can! In my new book that will be released this month, Body Esteem: Piece of Cake and Peace of Mind I show you how to acquire a better quality of life. I love the quote by Brian Tracy: “Make your life a masterpiece; imagine no limitation on what you can be, have or do.” You are capable of so much more than you could have ever imagined! You have the potential to optimize your psychological and physical health which will boost your body esteem and self-esteem. It is a balancing act whether you are incorporating your food intake and exercise regimen, pursuing your career development path, or realizing your dreams shared by your friends and family.

I marvel at Pink’s performances because she is truly a performer in every sense of the word! If you are wondering if you have seen another artist put more energy into acrobatics high above the audience, you may be thinking of Cirque du Soleil. If you have ever performed in a play, musical, or dance recital you have probably been told by your cast mates to “break a leg”! Everyone experiences a certain amount of anxiety (a few butterflies) when they are performing whether it be at your board meeting presentation, dance recital, or taking your state board exams for license. But, often times we limit ourselves due to fear of failure or past mistakes which can be overcome. Learning to “face the music” and being motivated to overcome any obstacles allows you to “have your cake and eat it too.”

Positive anxiety allows you to perform at your peak and does not sabotage your efforts of preparing in advance for the event, unlike negative performance anxiety which can decrease your performance as much as fifty percent. Athletes refer to the concept of “choking” when the performance does not go as well as one had hoped, and we have all witnessed this at the Olympics and it is heartbreaking to watch when an athlete falls short of their dream after years of blood, sweat, and tears.

Performance anxiety is one of the most common forms of anxiety and can manifest itself in a plethora of ways and plays a significant role in many aspects of our lives such as test taking, speaking engagements, theatrical or musical performances, sports competitions, and career and academic performances. The following are some methods you may want to consider to “have your cake and eat it too”:

Learn to quiet your inner critic by not being self-deprecating which will minimize your anxiety and foster self-esteem and body esteem.

Take a Beck Anxiety Assessment online or with a mental health professional to assess specific reasons as why you may be anxious or have performance anxiety.

Implement the techniques of self-efficacy where you no longer compete with others, but be the best version of yourself.

Pursue a biofeedback session with a psychologist which will identify specifically where your body physiologically manifests your stress and learn stress management techniques.

Incorporate progressive muscle relaxation or imagery techniques to reduce stress and anxiety.

You are an extraordinary person and you deserve to “have your cake and eat it too”!