Performans Kaygısıyla Baş Etmek: Sahne Senin! | Nova Norda | TEDxBilkent U

Performance Anxiety and Nova Norda's Experience

• Nova Norda states that she chose to speak about performance anxiety because it is something she has become an expert in due to her profession. (44s)
• Nova Norda experiences a high level of anxiety when releasing songs because she feels like she is sharing her diary with a large audience. (2m29s)

The Impact of External Perception

• Mirrors have been present for thousands of years, originating in Anatolia, and are now ubiquitous, leading to an obsession with how we are perceived externally. (6m47s)
• The constant presence of mirrors can fuel a preoccupation with physical appearance and societal validation, leading to a cycle of self-modification and seeking external approval. (8m10s)

The Performance Evaluation of Self

• Every time we look in the mirror, we engage in a performance evaluation of ourselves, judging our societal standing and making adjustments to improve our perceived performance, trapping ourselves in a cycle of seeking external validation. (8m50s)
• Mirrors and selfie cameras can be seen as tools that allow people to view themselves from an outsider's perspective, which can be a strange experience. (9m34s)

Defining Ourselves Through External Perceptions

• The way individuals describe themselves, such as saying "I am someone who enjoys listening to music" instead of "I enjoy listening to music," reveals a tendency to define themselves based on external perceptions. (10m21s)
• There is a distinction between the act of playing the piano and the desire to be seen as someone who plays the piano, with the latter often being more appealing due to societal perceptions of coolness and impressiveness. (12m0s)

The Disconnect Between Experience and Perception

• When imagining oneself playing the piano, the focus is often on the outcome rather than the experience of playing. (12m39s)
• Swimming is given as an example of an activity that seems enjoyable from an outsider's perspective, but the actual experience can be quite different. (13m44s)

The Influence of External Observers

• The speaker's motivation for wanting to be a better performer stems from a desire to please a conductor who had been critical of their breathing technique. (15m19s)
• When people imagine themselves being observed, the observer is always someone they know, such as a past romantic partner, a family member, or someone from their friend group. (16m1s)

The Social Media Persona

• People often strive to present a perfect image on social media, similar to a resume, showcasing only their accomplishments and positive aspects. (17m9s)
• The speaker, Ecem, who performs under the stage name Nova Norda, experiences anxiety related to her public persona and the fear of her work not being well-received. (18m30s)

Overcoming Performance Anxiety

• Nova Norda used to prioritize her public image over her mental health, leading to anxiety and self-criticism. (19m38s)
• To overcome performance anxiety, she decided to engage in activities that triggered it, such as releasing all her songs without filtering them based on external opinions. (20m12s)

Embracing Vulnerability and Self-Expression

• She challenged herself creatively by exploring different genres, writing more revealing lyrics, and creating bolder music videos, ultimately prioritizing her own self-expression and growth. (20m27s)
• Ecem believes that overcoming performance anxiety involves embracing potentially embarrassing situations and stepping outside of one's comfort zone. (22m43s)

Embracing the Full Spectrum of Experience

• Ecem argues that individuals should strive to fill their life's "resume" with a variety of experiences, including both successes and failures, rather than solely focusing on achievements. (23m29s)
• Ecem views her TEDx talk as a personal challenge and a valuable life experience, regardless of its perceived quality. (24m14s)