Toolbox: Act As If

‘Act As If’ is a way of changing your mindset, and one of the most powerful tools in the toolbox. To understand it, let’s work backwards from the question at the root of many anxieties: ‘what if?’

• What if I don’t bomb the presentation?

• What if I a make an error and we lose the game?

• What If my interview goes bad?

• What if she says no to the prom?

• What if I lose my job?

For people like me who’ve suffered for decades with agoraphobia, it starts mentally, becomes emotional, and then produces physical symptoms. Self-doubt is always there, and whenever you are moving into any uncomfortable situation, the anxiety starts to increase until, if not managed, it spirals completely out of control. Panic City.

A recent example is when I was invited to speak to several hundred students, faculty, administrators, and VIPs at Dean College’s Executive Lecture Series. Previous speakers include the president of Nike, Bob Kraft, owner of the New England Patriots, and the CEO of Life Is Good. Hard acts to follow. My head was swirling:

• What if my heart goes so fast I can’t breathe?

• What if I embarrass myself and run off the stage?

• What if I forget what I’m supposed to say?

• What if they don’t think it’s interesting?

First, I acknowledged that these were possibilities, but they’d never happened before, so they probably wouldn’t happen now. Then I substituted ‘what if?’ with ‘act as if.’ Act as if I’m more than not worried, I’m confident. Almost cocky. Act as if I’m not anxious, but eager. Act as if I’m not terrified of the audience, but can’t wait to see them, like they were my family and I missed them.

Is it a trick? Sort of. But research has shown that the physiological signs of excitement and anxiety are the same. Your body can’t tell the difference. And once you start thinking that it might be excitement you’re feeling, your body’s signs reinforce that idea, creating powerful momentum away from fear–and towards confidence.

Act as if. Three little words in my toolbox. And did they work? Well, an audience of 700 college students. stayed for the whole presentation–without checking their phones. At the very least, I know they weren’t bored!

Remember, believe in the process–you can do this!