Do you recall having the feeling that someone is looking at you? Does it seem to happen quite a lot in public places? It can not be comfortable, I know. Especially when you to trying to get a task done, this feeling can prevent the job from being performed efficiently. You are out of the zone. Sometimes you tell yourself to stop thinking or even overthink about it. You just want a peace of mind. You know in the grand scheme of things, more important things need to be done and that it does not matter. Maybe it is sensory overload, social anxiety, or an illusion created by you in your head. Perhaps it really is true and that you are at the center of attention. Many others have overcome this social anxiety problem. Being just an average joe trying to get through our day, obtaining a peace of mind can actually be quite the obstacle and a feat to master for life.

How to overcome social anxiety

Before going pro, professional athletes were just like everyone else. They were average joes. Having superb athleticism does not dismiss them from sensory overload and strange thoughts while always being under the spotlight. Certainly, most of us will never be under the magnitude of spotlight these pros are under. But we do share one common ground. There is a job to perform and a certain level of expectation for it. Everything else that we are experiencing while performing at their job, I will call it distractions. So how do the athletes do it? The answer is practice. Whether they practice performing at a small stage first or jumping right in front of a big audience, we do not know. The athletes train to be focused in front of large crowds.

Get in the zone

Some of us may have experienced this sensation from the past. The feeling of being fully emerged into an activity and the moment enters into a trance. Nothing in the world matters because we are focused. It is flow state, aka being in the zone. The more we practice entering flow state, the easier it is to enter again next time. However, the bigger the expectations from ourselves and others, the difficulty entering into flow state increases. These input, from our sensors and from our mind, are distractions. Flow state is fun once these distractions are put in place, because anything can be accomplished.

Flow state is peaceful. If we get in the zone for every activity we do throughout the day, imagine how much unnecessary drama we potentially could have avoided. It does not only apply to work. Flow state can be applied as a way of life when aligned properly. Next time you listen to music, try practicing to actually listen to music. Learn to love it. Or when you’re taking a walk to the salon, do so while in the zone. Anyone can do it. The key is learning how to manage distractions.