Published March 2026 Perfectionism Is Not the Same as Excellence Perfectionism and performance are often closely linked, particularly for high-achieving professionals, athletes, and students. High standards are praised. Precision is rewarded. Relentless effort is often interpreted as commitment. But perfectionism is not the same as excellence. Excellence is about doing something well and continuing to […]
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Most discussions of performance focus on what happens in front of others.The presentation. The meeting. The interview. The competition. The moment of visible evaluation. Yet a substantial proportion of performance occurs without an audience. Work completed in solitude.Decisions made quietly.Effort sustained without recognition.Creative or professional development that unfolds out of view. For individuals who function
Performing Without an Audience: The Psychology of Private Performance Read More »
When self-criticism becomes a problem Self-criticism often arrives quietly. It can sound like high standards, self-monitoring, or a desire to improve… until it begins to interfere with flexibility, confidence, and performance under pressure. For some people in high-pressure roles, self-criticism and performance is complex. Self-criticism can seem motivating, even protective. Yet under pressure, self-criticism can
Self-Criticism and Performance: How the Inner Critic Affects Performance Under Pressure Read More »
Freezing under pressure is more common than many people realise. It’s not unusual to feel nervous in challenging moments – but few expect to feel stuck or unable to respond in the way they normally would. Freezing can show up as blanking out, going quiet, losing words, feeling disconnected, or suddenly being unable to act
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Understanding Performance Anxiety: Why It Happens and How to Work With It Do you get nervous when you have to get up on stage to sing or act?Do you feel jittery before an audition, a game, a meeting, or a presentation?Does your heart race before a big conversation or interview? Performance anxiety isn’t limited to
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As a psychologist who spends time on the road as well as in the therapy room, I’ve had my own encounters with performance anxiety. Whether preparing for a race or stepping into another form of pressure, the experience is familiar. That sense of apprehension can build as the moment approaches, particularly when something feels important
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Performance Anxiety Anxiety before a performance assessment can be hard to manage. Here are some tips that might help. Performance anxiety is not uncommon… and when you have to prepare for and perform as part of a VCE assessment it’s even harder! I’m sure there are music and drama teachers who assist their students to
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There are times when anxiety becomes impossible to ignore. You might try to push it aside, focus on what you’re doing, or carry on as if it’s not there. But the more it is ignored, the more present it seems to become. It starts to take up space. This is where the metaphor of the
The Elephant in the Room: Understanding Anxiety and Attention Read More »
Last weekend there were 2 major endurance events that friends and team mates competed in: the Tour of Bright (ToB) and Ironman Busselton. I am always impressed when I read the race reports that they write in the days following the event. I’ve competed in the Tour of Bright a number of times,
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Sometimes we just want to stop, lie down and take a break. We might feel like giving up. We might feel like what we’re doing doesn’t matter. We might feel like the effort is just too much. We might feel like it’s not worth it. But it might be more helpful to reassess, to adjust
Do you really want to give up? Read More »
