Awareness gives us choice. When we are more self-aware, we can choose to adopt a more helpful motivational strategy. Also, because what we choose to focus on has a large impact on what is likely to happen, adopting a towards strategy is a great way of tackling both cynicism and performance anxiety. Instead of focusing on what might go wrong, instead tell yourself what positive outcomes there could be as a result of your “performance,” not just in terms of the specific outcome, but in other ways as well; for example, self-development, self-confidence and modelling the behaviour to others.
