7 tools to help you actually enjoy performing again

In this episode, I share a compassionate, practical, and research-informed approach to one of the biggest challenges we face as performers: what to do when the nerves show up — on stage, in auditions, in big meetings, and in any moment that really matters.

Building on the personal performance framework from last week's episode, I walk you through 7 powerful tools drawn from my decades as a performing artist and my work coaching high-level musicians. Each tool comes with a concrete exercise so you can begin shifting your relationship with nerves immediately — not by eliminating them, but by befriending them.

In this episode, I share:

(04:01) How to reconnect with your artistic "why"

(05:38) How to reframe nervousness into excitement/pr>

(06:45) How your core values can anchor your performance(08:04) How breathwork regulates your nervous system

(10:37) How to use playfulness to soften anxiety

(11:52) How to free yourself from perfectionism

(13:09) And how befriending difficult emotions can actually improve your performance under pressure

By the end of this episode, you'll walk away with seven tangible tools you can start using right away. So go apply these and make the most of that big moment coming up – Or, if you've simply found that nerves have taken away your love of performing on any scale, it's time to change that and bring that freedom of music-making back into your life.

And, if you want some more individualized support, click the link below for a free consult:
https://mindfulopus.com/#contact

My two-part process to help you find clarity, confidence, and calm before any big artistic event

What if preparing for a big performance didn't have to feel overwhelming, rigid, or all-consuming?

In this episode, I'm sharing the exact framework I use with my coaching clients to help them create their own personal process — one that supports not just their playing, but supports them as a whole human — both leading up to a big event and on the day itself.

Whether you're preparing for an audition, competition, recital, solo or orchestral feature, or any meaningful creative project, this episode will help you find more clarity, ease, and confidence in how you prepare — without defaulting to burnout or grind.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• How to identify a target feeling to guide your preparation (instead of letting anxiety run the show)
• What to intentionally bring into your process — and what to leave out
• How to structure your prep using a whole-person approach, not just more practice
• How to build a supportive day-of plan that helps you feel grounded and ready, regardless of outcome
• What to include in your personal performance toolkit

This episode is for you if:

• You're going for something important and feel unsure on how to best support yourself in your preparation
• You tend to overpractice, overthink, or obsess leading up to a bit event
• You want a process that supports both your standards AND your well-being
• You want a calmer, clearer, more enjoyable experience — both on and off stage
• This is a practical, reflective episode — so you may want to grab a pen and paper, or save it to revisit later as needed.
• And if you decide you don't want to navigate this process alone: https://mindfulopus.com/#contact

A story of reconnection, self-belief, and coming home to your art.

What happens when you've spent years feeling like your playing is never good enough, you're disconnected from your art, or unsure whether this music-thing you once loved is still right for you?

In this deep and meaningful conversation, violinist Lauren Roth-Gómez — Acting Associate Concertmaster of the Atlanta Symphony — shares the inner transformation that led her back to herself, her artistry, and her love of music.

Lauren opens up about:

• Nearly walking away from the violin
• The internal pressures and perfectionism that buried her love for music
• Rebuilding self-worth from the inside out
• What it means to cultivate an inner coach
• How freedom became her guiding lighthouse
• The moment she realized her worth wasn't tied to a single note, run, or result
• Her career pivot rooted in creating a life aligned with her values
• How self-compassion — not self-criticism — became her most powerful performance tool
• Whether you're a musician, a creative, or someone who has ever questioned your path, Lauren's story is a reminder that you're allowed to evolve, to reconnect, and to come home to your art — one opus at a time…

Timestamps

(00:00) - Introduction

(02:19) - Interview begins

(04:01) - Why Lauren chose coaching

(07:00) - Ebb and flow of violin journey, and making it her own

(11:30) - Tackling feelings of inadequacy, perfectionism and muddy waters

(13:35) - Self-compassion

(15:25) - Concerto moment: performance shift + self-worth

(20:30) - Audition journey: inner coach + critic, resilience amidst obstacles

(27:15) - The desire to win, balanced with with releasing any outcome

(32:12) - Knowing yourself: self-determination, discipline, perseverance, fierce self-compassion

(35:50) - Create the life you want: career pivot, values work, decisions from self-trust and self-love

(42:10) - How being yourself is the best way to honor your teachers

(45:48) - Rapid fire questions

Also - Come say hi! @mindfulopus on Instagram, or mindfulopus.com