Improvisation

"All problems with writing and performing come from fear. Fear of exposure, fear of weakness, fear of lack of talent, fear of looking like a fool for trying, for even thinking you could write in the first place. It's all fear. If we didn't have fear, imagine the creativity in the world. Fear holds us back every step of the way. A lot of studies say that despite all our fears in this country - death, war, guns, illness - our biggest fear is public speaking. What I am doing right now. And when people are asked to identify which kind of public speaking they are most afraid of, they check the improvisation box. So improvisation is the number-one fear in America. Forget a nuclear winter or an eight point nine earthquake or another Hitler. It's improve. Which is funny, because aren't we just improvising all day long? Isn't our whole life just one long improvisation? What are we scared of?"

Popponesset Beach, Cape Code

My beach vacation read at the Cape was Writers & Lovers by Lily King.  The book takes place in Cambridge and includes landmarks like Plough & Stars, Porter Square and other local haunts.

It's always fun reading about places I have been to & know well from my years living in Cambridge.  The above quote near the culmination of the story made me think about what I have been reading and working on for the Leadership Development Program - improvisation & inner critic fears.