Try journaling, mantras and affirmations, or try online resources like the courses, coaching and writing on Aujla’s site,. A broader perspective reminds you that you’re not alone, which helps reduce anxiety and boost determination. For example, if piqué turns make you feel like screaming, visualize that you’re in a helicopter, looking down over yourself-and everyone else who may also be struggling. “As with physical skills, mental skills need to be practiced,” says Aujla. ![]() Learn to cope with setbacks, manage anxiety and nurture optimism. Those smaller wins will help you recognize the progress you’re making along the way. For example, if your goal is to do a grand jeté with your legs at 180 degrees by November 1, break that down into SMART goals, such as improving your leg flexibility and strength. Turn big ambitions into SMART goals: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time-Bound. So how do you get “that gritty stuff”? You probably already have more than you realize-you show up at the studio when you’d rather be in bed, you rehearse that tricky combo until you nail it-and you can build on it with these suggestions from Aujla. “You probably still need a large amount of that gritty stuff to stick at it,” she says. Even for dancers with company contracts, the internal competition for roles can be fierce, and contract renewals are not guaranteed. ![]() “You can afford to relax a little bit and not have quite so much persistence.”Īujla suspects that responses would be similar for freelancers in the United States. This may be because later in your career, “you’re in a much more comfortable position,” says Aujla. In fact, the study showed that early-career professionals tend to have more grit than established artists do. “To keep picking yourself up-going for things again and again-requires really high levels of grit,” says Aujla. They also rated themselves highly on eight grit-related questions. ![]() For example, they appreciated contributing to their art form and enjoyed the day-to-day variety that enabled them to grow artistically. Despite common career challenges like financial insecurity and intense competition for jobs, “the freelancers had relatively high levels of well-being,” Aujla says. In a study published in December 2021, Aujla and her colleagues examined grit and psychological well-being in freelance dancers, choreographers and teachers in the United Kingdom. Building your own wellspring of grit will help you ride out the inevitable ups and downs of the dance world and boost your chances of achieving your dreams. Imogen Aujla, a dance psychology researcher, coach and lecturer. In psychological terms, grit is “the combination of passion and persistence towards long-term goals that are personally meaningful,” says Dr. Grit is more than a grain of sand-it’s a powerful state of mind that can help propel your dance career.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |