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Welcome!
This blog is my best attempt to put what I’m currently seeing about life, performance, and overall wellbeing into words. Consider it a progress report on my journey of learning, if you will. Since we’re all in this human experience together, I hope the articles speak to you, spark fresh, new perspectives and insight, and bring you clarity and peace of mind. If you have any questions or want to chat more about what you’ve read, reach out anytime. Enjoy!
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You Are Not Your Thoughts
A few years ago, I read a mind-blowing study from evolutionary psychologist David Buss. In the study, he asked a group a simple question:...
Nicholas Pallesen
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How do I find the answers and direction I need?
Have you ever lost your phone? For the life of you, you can't remember where you left it. So you rack your brain, retrace your steps,...
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No More Playing Safe
You know that popular self-help phrase, “Do something every day that scares you”? I heard something even better recently. If you know me...
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You do YOU.
Does that quote resonate with you? One of my "talents" (in quotes because I'm not always sure it's a good thing!) is modeling other...
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The Night I Knew I'd Stop Singing
7 years ago today - December 5, 2012 - I made my Carnegie Hall debut. It was also the beginning of the end of my singing career. (Wanna...
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You are enough. No, really!
A friend and client reached out to me recently, and I thought I'd share my response to her just in case you needed the reminder, too ❤️...
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"How Do I Stop Shaking?"
In my mental performance coaching work for performers, public speakers, and athletes, people often contact me who struggle with physical...
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Let's Talk About "Stakes", Baby...
It seems almost every person who works with me is up to something in the world and wants to bring their dreams into reality in various...
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How Do We Quiet a Noisy Mind?
"It feels completely out of my control", she said.⠀ ⠀ A recent client was frustrated because her mind was noisy. And she was doubly...
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The Shortest Performance Anxiety Book Ever
For years, my clients have asked me to write a book about overcoming performance anxiety/stage fright so more people could have access to...
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Turning "What will people think?" into, "Whatever"
This week, I wrote an Instagram post that sort of went viral. It was shared over 30 times and had the highest engagement of anything I've...
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Doesn't the meme say it all?
Have you ever noticed that when people ask, "How are you?", we often don't actually answer that question? ⠀ ⠀ We almost always reply by...
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Do we really feel nervous when performing because we care?
"Being nervous is a good thing! It means you care." I hear that statement thrown around a lot. You? Some people even say we should feel...
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Are there really such thing as "stakes"?
"Do you ever forget you're going to be okay no matter what?", a violist I'm working with asked me the other day.⠀ ⠀ "Hell yeah", I...
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Everyone poops! How cool is that?!
Don't tell anyone, but this was my favorite book growing up! (Really!)⠀ ⠀ I loved the simple, fun reminder that there are things we do...
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Can performances and auditions actually make you nervous?
"Performing and auditioning makes you anxious"⠀ ⠀ I've heard that one a lot. It's one of those "givens" most performers assume to be...
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Pursuing your goals with less struggle
I had a cool session this week with a client who has risen to the upper tier of her profession. While she’s been content with her work...
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Your psychological immune system
As I type this article, I’m in my pajamas and a sweatshirt, sniffling and sneezing from a cold I picked up on my flight home from Greece...
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To resolve, or not to resolve?
Over the past week, many clients have asked me how I feel about New Year's Resolutions. I personally haven't made them for a few years...
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No Positivity Required
The other day, a client and I were talking about an upcoming audition she has. She mentioned that she was feeling pretty negative about...
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