I work in an industry where everyone expects you to be brimming with enthusiasm and energy. It's probably not a surprise that we consume copious amounts of coffee and cake in our office - sugar and caffeine certainly keep us ticking along nicely.
But enthusiasm isn't the same as confidence. I may do my part at keeping my colleagues' cake-quota up, but if I'm honest, the self assuredness that people expect me to exude is just not natural for me... I am deeply self conscience, and in my natural state I tend to be happier quietly working through my own thoughts than standing up in front of a crowd.
So I do think it is rather odd that I am currently spending my free time in a situation where I'm forced to take centre stage. Literally. I am rehearsing for a musical. And for the first time ever I've been given a named part.
I have two left feet (I can bob along to music, but seriously choreographed dancing is not my thing), and I've never done kareoke solo; the idea of being so exposed frightens me. But in a few weeks not only will I be singing by myself to a (hopefully) full house, but I'll also be simultaneously doing an Irish jig (don't ask...) Which, for someone lacking in confidence should be my worst nightmare, but I absolutely love it.
I think we spend a lot of our lives playing roles depending on the situation we're in. I might be innately shy, but if the character I'm playing would sing and dance then I will. And the same is true off-stage. I might be full of self doubt, and riddled with confidence issues, but if I need to be seen as an enthusiastic expert, I can neatly step into that role too. I play the role of daughter when I visit my parents, unable to completely shake the dependency that I haven't required for years living away from home... And I hope one day to play the role of Mum: not really knowing what the rules are or whether there is an instruction manual, but having self belief that what I am doing is right.
Do you find yourself stepping into roles?
But enthusiasm isn't the same as confidence. I may do my part at keeping my colleagues' cake-quota up, but if I'm honest, the self assuredness that people expect me to exude is just not natural for me... I am deeply self conscience, and in my natural state I tend to be happier quietly working through my own thoughts than standing up in front of a crowd.
So I do think it is rather odd that I am currently spending my free time in a situation where I'm forced to take centre stage. Literally. I am rehearsing for a musical. And for the first time ever I've been given a named part.
I have two left feet (I can bob along to music, but seriously choreographed dancing is not my thing), and I've never done kareoke solo; the idea of being so exposed frightens me. But in a few weeks not only will I be singing by myself to a (hopefully) full house, but I'll also be simultaneously doing an Irish jig (don't ask...) Which, for someone lacking in confidence should be my worst nightmare, but I absolutely love it.
I think we spend a lot of our lives playing roles depending on the situation we're in. I might be innately shy, but if the character I'm playing would sing and dance then I will. And the same is true off-stage. I might be full of self doubt, and riddled with confidence issues, but if I need to be seen as an enthusiastic expert, I can neatly step into that role too. I play the role of daughter when I visit my parents, unable to completely shake the dependency that I haven't required for years living away from home... And I hope one day to play the role of Mum: not really knowing what the rules are or whether there is an instruction manual, but having self belief that what I am doing is right.
Do you find yourself stepping into roles?
