You don't want to be asleep, but you also don't want to be like having a heart attack?

I'm Angela Duckworth.

I'm Maria Kana-Kova.

And you're listening to no stupid questions.

Today on the show, can you learn to perform under pressure?

If I'm just imagining myself standing with a trophy in my hand, that might not be nearly

as effective as imagining myself choking.

Maria, I am so excited to be in conversation with you today about a question that has

honestly been haunting me for many years.

Are you ready for it?

I am ready, let's have it.

We have a listener named Srishti who writes, I have a question about performing under pressure.

One of my kids is a high level basketball player and the other is a pianist.

I notice that they can often nail challenging pieces or shots in the practice setting, but

the high pressure real life situations affect them negatively.

Is this something they can work on?

Can people adapt to pressure?

What are some tactics?

Warmly, Srishti?

I think you're the perfect person to talk about this, Maria, because you have experienced

as a psychologist, also as a person who, on occasion, subjects themselves to high pressure

situations.

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