People often avoid demonstrating a skill because they’re self-conscious about it. They don’t think it’s good enough or they worry about what others will think of it, so they hold it back. You may have done this.
I am absolutely, completely, 100% NOT self-conscious about my clarinet playing. You could insult me about it and I wouldn’t bat an eye. You could say I’m the worst clarinet player in the world and it wouldn’t phase me at all; I am immune to such barbs and the thought of being exposed to them wouldn’t cost me a second of sleep. Why?
I don’t play the clarinet.
It’s not even a skill I have. I’ve never claimed to have it, so no one can call me a liar. I’ve never put a second of work into it, so I can’t worry that I’ve wasted a second of work. I cannot be judged, I cannot fail, I cannot be unfavorably compared to another clarinet player.
Do you realize what that means?
It means that self-consciousness is an indicator of competence.
The skills you feel self-conscious about are the skills you’ve invested in emotionally. It has to be that way – without emotional investment, there’s nothing to feel self-conscious about. But that same investment is also likely paired with time and practice, so the very skills you’re most self-conscious of are the same skills you’ve spent the most time practicing and improving.
So if you don’t feel very confident about something – great! That means it’s probably among your best skills, and you’re well on your way to being absolutely wonderful at it. You’re certainly much better already than you think you are.
And no matter what, you’re a better clarinet player than I am.
The Opportunity Machine 