It was two days before I was set to be host of The Right Price. I had a knot in my stomach and pain in my chest. I was working on several large projects at work and balancing lots of scheduling stuff at home too. I could feel the sense of dread and panic and I wanted to stop it before it developed any further.
I called my husband and said, "I need a pep talk." I admitted I was nervous about the game show, and he said, "I am too. But then I remembered how I felt when you participated in that Toastmasters contest. I was nervous for you and then you started speaking and I realized you would be fine."
And just like that, I felt better. It was his way of saying, "I'm with you. And you will be okay." It was just what I needed to hear. And then I went back to work.
Is there someone in your life you can ask for a pep talk? Here are a few points to ponder:
When you feel anxious, call it out. Shine a light on it, rather than pretending it's not there. Often just identifying what's causing anxiety and talking about it helps ease it.
Know who you can meet your need for a pep talk. Don't call the person who's always making you feel crummy (actually, don't ever call that person). Rather, find the people in your life who are likely to be encouraging and uplifting.
Be clear about what you need. My husband is not a natural pep-talker. He is very practical and protective, which means he can see what could go wrong even more easily than what could go right. So I choose my words carefully. If I say, "I need a pep talk" I'm going to get a different conversation than "I need to talk something through." This tip is a key to a successful relationship so I'll repeat it: be clear about what you need.
It's easier to ask for a pep talk when you yourself are a pep talker. If being encouraging doesn't come naturally to you, start by not being discouraging.
I've become the pep talker for a lot of my friends and family members. One even calls me her Chief Inspiration Officer. But even the most positive of us feel negative at times, and that's the perfect time to ask for a pep talk.