For years I have desperately feared failing so big that I wouldn’t be able to put my life back together again.
This fear doesn’t come from anything rational - I’m a young, somewhat gorgeous (others’ words, not my own!), employed, engaged (hi, Dylan!) woman whose worst failure might be accidentally missing a deadline at work because she’s “simply taken on too many responsibilities”! It’s embarrassing actually. The invalidity of my fear. But that’s why it’s so frustrating that I still allow it to stop me from actually living and thus regretting every “risky” (actually exciting) path I didn’t take.
This is where my love for improv comes in. When I do improv, I fail so much it’s laughable. During a class I recently took, I spoke during a group scene at a “town hall” by
introducing the frog that came out of my drain due to poor town water quality that I have now come to raise as my child. Griping and griping about how my ex husband won’t even pay child support. You get the idea. It was wild and technically is what I’ve been critiqued for in the past - not being “based in reality” enough. Fair. BUT, wow did I have a blast. I closed off the judgmental and stifling part of my brain and let loose the creative, thoughtful, and energized part. The part that feels isolated on a daily basis in order to “fit in” or “be successful.” That’s what improv can do - provide freedom to take those leaps and present your frog son to the group.
Or, freedom from the fear of speaking up during a business meeting, giving the presentation of your new project idea, or having that conversation with the person you’ve been dating. The skills we use in improv allow for that fear to be translated into action - and connection with the people around you. Improv is all about supporting and celebrating the ideas of the people you’re on stage with, even if they’re not the best in the world. You stand by your ensemble and say “I’m here for you, let’s make this bad idea work.” And truthfully? Sometimes those bad ideas don’t work, and that’s okay. That’s when the fear of failure gets tied with a pretty bow. You tried, it didn’t work, and yet you survived. What if you never took that first step of presenting your idea, or reaching out to that colleague, or telling the person you like that it might be turning into love?
You could’ve missed out on something great.
Don’t miss out. Call Range at 207 222 RANGE. I’m joking. Don’t call that number. But really, let me teach your team the skills of improv. It will be fun.
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