Nerves and intentions

Yet another cooking show. Yet more contestants vying for the approval of the expert chefs on hand to taste and to test their food. I don’t actually understand why I find these shows so compelling, except I never know what they’re going to cook — or who is going to be doing the cooking. And that’s intriguing. And keeps me coming back, episode after episode. 

The other day, the show included an older woman who was cooking with her daughter and grandson. She clearly had skills, but was not what you might call dynamic. However, she was confident; in fact, she exuded confidence. 

At one point, she said to the host: “I don’t get nervous. It’s pointless. I just do my best.” 

And I immediately liked her. That attitude spoke to me as someone who gets nervous — tries not to, but does. But her simple solution: Just do your best. Well, that made sense to me. 

She had put herself onto the show. At some level she wanted to be there. So why succumb to nerves? Why not simply breathe deeply and do her best? 

I think it’s excellent advice and I intend to follow it today, when I lead a workshop — for which I volunteered — for my colleagues at the college. 

Nervous? Me? Well, yes. But I am channelling that older woman contestant and translating my nerves into excitement. And embodying the intention of just doing my best. What could go wrong with that approach? 

To be continued… 

Photo by Dom Fou on Unsplash