I’ve played a lot of sports over the years and have been a part of many teams. It really doesn’t matter the level of the competition as much as the act of competing. Especially team sports. What I always found to be the case is that the anticipation of an upcoming game is always worse than the game itself. Ten times worse. I think it’s because you physically can’t do anything about it. The game hasn’t started yet. All you can do is think about it and work yourself into a lather. I found this to be true with any sort of performance as well.
Once the game begins, most of the nerves go away. They dissipate into the physical activities of playing or the performance. This is something I have learned to live with as an athlete over the years and don’t really judge it as good or bad. It just is. I know this. And I accept it as part of the process.
However, when it comes to the creative process, I’m not so accepting or understanding. And I’m not sure why. But, if I was to take my own advice I would say, play the game, Jim. Just keep playing. It will all work out in the end.
But what you shouldn’t do is get paralysis by analysis. Do it. Play. Create. Perform. Enjoy.