The Art of Keeping Calm Under Pressure

Our ancestors survived animal attacks after their bodies warned them that danger was at hand. They literally ran away from the face of danger! That’s what survival was about. In those days, the human body produced adrenaline to save people from trouble by triggering the “flight or fight” mode.

During this adrenaline rush, people might have experienced anxiety which helped them register the danger signs and run away to save themselves.

In modern times, a similar yet totally different thing happens. Human beings are subjected to other sources of trauma and stress.

One good example is giving a presentation to a large crowd in the office. Many people aren’t comfortable talking in front of a big crowd. This can lead to anxiety and stress. 

Some individuals even experience a full-blown panic attack when there are too many people nearby! So, how in the world are they going to give that presentation? Your signal stressors might still be activated by the brain, but these stress triggers aren’t likely to be useful to help you out of the “danger” you’re in.

Nerves Can Affect Performance

Nerves can really get to you, especially in high-pressure situations. But you should realize that you’re not the only one who’s suffering from this condition.

Many of us idolize musicians, artists, writers, actors and actresses, and others from Hollywood and the local entertainment scene.

They go on road tours and perform at concerts to earn money. After all, making music is fun, but they also have to eat and support their families.

Most of these musicians earn a living from these road tours, but cancellations due to COVID-19 and other reasons are forcing these artists to build a good following on their respective social media accounts. And that’s worked out well for many of them, too.

Because of pictures and videos showing their impressive performances at events, whether in real concert venues or through a viral concert, many think that these performers and artists are genuinely confident and happy with their lives.

But the reality is that many of them are somewhat shy and would rather stay away from the crowd and their fans as much as possible! Tough deal for someone who’s in the entertainment industry, huh?

Famous Artists Who Were Actually Very Shy

Here are some famous artists who were impressive performers but were actually very shy:

Ella Fitzgerald

Known as the First Lady of Song and the Queen of Jazz, Ella Fitzgerald received recognition for her talent by receiving a National Medal of Arts and 14 Grammy awards. But Ella confessed to being very shy as a person.

But she loved music and enjoyed performing for a crowd.

“I’m very shy, and I shy away from people. But the moment I hit the stage, it’s a different feeling. I get nerve from somewhere; maybe it’s because it’s something I love to do,” she said.

A lot of people can surely relate to what Ella felt.

Elvis Presley

Although many of us think that the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll was the embodiment of a total performer, he wasn’t always that amazing when he first started as a singer. Elvis admitted to being so shy at first that he had great difficulty getting on stage and performing in front of so many people.

His discomfort must have grown after he became famous and was expected to perform in front of even more crowds, but he managed to overcome that to make his audience happy.

Bob Dylan

Country singer, Johnny Cash, recalled how his friend, folk legend Bob Dylan, enjoyed music but spent time being very quiet. Even after becoming famous, Bob struggled with how to deal with large crowds.

Although he was able to stay calm and perform his songs, there were plenty of times when he looked a little embarrassed, Johnny recalled. Still, Bob became one of the music industry’s icons, proving that you don’t have to pretend to be someone you’re not to succeed in life.

Adele

Adele always looks so beautiful and confident on stage, but she’s admitted to struggling with anxiety attacks before shows because she’s intimidated by audiences. Some people think it’s funny that Adele is scared of crowds, considering she’s a singer, but that’s a reality that she and many other musicians have to face because of the industry they are in.

David Bowie

Many don’t know that David Bowie was scared of performing in a crowd but that one of his coping strategies was to lean on his onstage persona, Ziggy Stardust. Somehow, Ziggy made him feel confident – and perhaps that’s something you should try doing if you’re under pressure but need to perform well!

Dealing with High-Pressure Situations

Have you ever noticed how high-pressure situations tend to make everything seem worse? If you have a very stressful job, the more you stay in that high-pressure environment, the harder it is to deal with the stress.

Many succumb to pressure and find unhealthy outlets that could affect their work performance or even their health! The same applies to students trying hard to meet numerous deadlines, musicians who need to perform and look amazing for their fans, and even parents who have to juggle work with taking care of their children.

How do you handle high-pressure situations?

Grace under pressure

Don’t panic! That will only make things worse. Simply show grace under pressure. As many would say, “grin and bear it.” That’s easier said than done, of course, but if you change your mindset, you can accomplish many things you didn’t expect you could.

Focusing on the positives can truly help you calm those nerves and let you shine.

Keep it all in perspective

Think about the worst thing that could happen. That might trigger another panic attack, but you’ll soon realize that there’s no need to be anxious.

Think about whether something that you’re about to do will make a difference in your life in, let’s say, a specific time frame such as two years. This will help you stay focused on your goals and put your mind at ease.

Sleep

Rest well. It’s always a good idea to get at least eight hours of sleep, even before a performance. There’s no use in overworking yourself with repeated practices on the night before the big day. 

You can’t perform well if nerves get in the way!