I don’t remember how or where I head about this book, Performing Under Pressure. It’s not the kind of book I typically am drawn to (give me a de-cluttering book any day!), but there were a few sections that resonated with me so much that I photocopied them and they have been floating around on my desk for months. 

They resonated because they address the thing I am constantly battling. As a writer I am always comparing myself against others and coming up short. It doesn’t matter how much I learn or how much I progress, there will always be people who write better, who have published more books and whose books are selling better than mine. That’s life, right? I don’t believe I am alone in this mental trap. 

The authors of Performing Under Pressure point out is that if you switch from a ranking mind-set (ie everyone is better than me) to a mind set “characterized less by a focus on ranking and competition and more by a focus on developing yourself to your fullest capability,” you will no longer be “trapped by pressure,” feeling anxious and inadequate. This doesn’t mean you don’t work hard and and try to improve but you do it in a different mindset. I think, if I can do this, it will also help me enjoy not just writing, but life in general, a little bit more. 

I’ll give it a try and let you now what I find! I’ll leave you with a final quote from the book, one I might need to tattoo on my forehead!  “Free yourself from pressure traps by letting your own values, interests, and goals motivate you; value yourself, and focus on what you can control — your own efforts.”