Do you have 15 minutes a day to work on your self confidence?

 Working with dancers on their confidence is something that Annabelle, our MWM Mindset Coach, does on a daily basis. This is something that can affect any single dancer - from World Champions to beginners, from young children to senior dancers. There's lots of different ways we can work on our confidence as people and as dancers, but here's one tip that you can do everyday - and it only takes 15 minutes! 

Have you heard of visualisation? 

Visualisation is a technique that allows you fully immerse yourself into the future, without moving a muscle. This is a great technique for dancers to practise before situations which may make them feel worried, anxious or scared - for example feises or dance classes. Incorporating visualisation helps enhance your confidence and self-belief, improves the quality of your practice sessions and helps us feel completely mentally prepared for competitions. 

Visualisation goes further than just thinking positively or talking about our goals - it is an experience in which we train our mind and our body to work together. 

Fun fact: the brain can't tell the difference between real and imaginary situations! This is why visualisation is so powerful.

When we spend some time everyday visualising ourselves dancing amazingly and with confidence, we use the same part of the brain as we do when we physically dance amazingly and with confidence! Also, visualisation is a great way to combat nerves on competition day, as we have already spent some time making ourselves feel familiar and comfortable in the situation - even before we get there. 

When you visualise it is important that you concentrate on the execution of the day and your dancing - how the day is going to go, how it is going to make you feel and how you are going to dance on the day. We need to make this as real to life as possible - which is why it can be easier to visualise about feises we have been to before. With visualisation, you aren't held back by any physical limitations - such as injuries, which makes visualisation a great tool for dancers who are injured whilst preparing for a competition. 

Visualisation tips, tricks and advice:

1. Create a complete picture in your mind.

2. If you haven't been to the competition before, spend some time making yourself familiar with the venue. Sometimes looking at pictures from the feis the year before or utilising Google can help. 

3. Use all of your senses - smell, taste, touch, sound and see.

4. Be consistent. 

5. Think about the small details. 

6. Find a time when you won't be disturbed. 

Give visualisation a try for the next 30 days and see how much of a difference it makes to your confidence, self-belief, nerves AND your dancing!

If this feels like it would help you and you need some more guidance or support, we have a MWM Gold Club Thursday morning Mindset class with Annabelle and you can find out more and sign up for 1:1 Mindset sessions here.