March 2017

31 Mar

Overcoming Terror

by Jeremy Chance

How do you feel when people cheer your work?

If you love that too much, you're in trouble.

Why?

Because what happens when they DON'T like your work?

EXACTLY.

***

You need a replacement plan for your addiction to praise.

When you are standing in front of a group of people, your mouth dry, terror in your heart and wondering "Will they like me? Will I do well tonight?" that's when you pull out your replacement plan: a list of things you must do to meet your own standard.

30 Mar

The Anatomy of Terror

by Jeremy Chance

When I first started my school in Japan, I once wanted to die.

Not suicide, but almost. Because something happened…

And I reacted badly to it.

I was washed away by a tsunami of emotions so brutal that, for a moment, I wanted to drown. I wanted to escape from a darkness so overwhelming, it took my breath away.

I was co-teaching a workshop in Kyoto, in 2001.

29 Mar

What is the Alexander Technique Again?

by Jeremy Chance

A few weeks ago I was violently berated by one of my staff.

He didn't hit me or anything - I just rarely encounter real, live and angry people.

Then last night I was berated again for the same reason. By a different staff! At some point it's necessary to think - perhaps they have a point? If they have to shout to be heard, maybe I am not listening.

So what did I hear?

27 Mar

WARNING of the Red Flashing Light

by Jeremy Chance

My daughter Angelica was relieved to finally get her driver’s license.

It had been a long time coming, with some bad luck along the way. Last month she finally passed.

However, her bad luck was to continue…

Once she got her license, she already had a car to drive. It was a vehicle passed down through the family, but quite old. She lives in Mullumbimby, which proudly claims it is “The Biggest Little Town in Australia” on a big sign you see when you come to the turnoff.

26 Mar

Sherlock Holmes’ Secret Principle

by Jeremy Chance

I finally got to sleep last night around 3am.

The alarm buzzed at 6am, because at 7am I had an online meeting with a potential partner. I had never heard of this guy until a month ago, and now he was interested to work with me.

I did something I usually don’t do – I offered to talk for free. Mistake.

I haul myself (reluctantly) out of bed: shower, shave, make the tea, sit down to boot up the computer when my phone pings at me…

He cancelled on me. 9 minutes before we’re due to talk.

25 Mar

Can You Transform Through Reading?

by Jeremy Chance

Christina Grönbech is not an Alexander teacher or trainee. (Her sister is)

However, she enjoys reading my Daily because (she writes) …

… it allows people like me to read even more about the experiences, interpretations and thoughts made by a very, very skilled AT-teacher. And I already really enjoy reading your mails so I welcome your initiative very much.

Not sure about the “very, very” (thank you) but otherwise -- > TRUE.

24 Mar

Confessions From A Teacher in Pain

by Jeremy Chance

After outing my Self, I asked you to write in with your secret.

I got a few, but here’s one that touched me…

***

My Alexander secret is that I haven't solved my neck and back tension problem at my pharmacy work (I'm a community pharmacist as well). That makes me think that I can't be a good teacher. That also makes me doubt the whole Alexander discovery.

***

Are teachers supposed to be free of pain? No-one told me that. I certainly am not.

23 Mar

Do You Keep Your Farts Secret?

by Jeremy Chance

Does anyone else have a problem with farting in workshops?

You might laugh, but I am a vegetarian and I sometimes eat beans. You get the drift?

The point is – tighten up, hold it in or…

Be free? But others might not be!

What is ethical and, well, consistent with what I teach?

Can it be right that I am tightening and holding stuff in, while asking them to expand and open up?

22 Mar

Outing My Self to Don Weed

by Jeremy Chance

Talking about secrets.

Last night I “outed” my Self – I exposed my secret life. Did you?

It was invigorating, uplifting and liberating.

***

The day started with a trainee in tears in my ATSuccess class, sharing her secret fear. She admitted to being frightened of joining Facebook because “I might be attacked”. As she shared her ‘secret’ with us, she got freer.

“Secrets” will cause head/spinal dysfunction.

21 Mar

Who’s Coming to Your Funeral?

by Jeremy Chance

What secrets do you keep?

And from who? And why? What are you afraid of?

I’ve never been good at keeping secrets.

In fact, I keep wanting to run a personal policy of “full disclosure” and I never succeed at it. When I was in my final year at school, I decided to write a “truth letter” to each of my closest friends. Four letters.

I laid out as clearly as I could EXACTLY what I thought of each one.

12 Mar

It's Good To Be Nervous

by Jeremy Chance

I had to lie to get my first acting job.

I landed a part in Jack Hibberd’s Dimboola – one of Australia’s most successful plays. Trouble was, I was still only 17.

So I instantly became 18, just like that.

Back in those days, things were lazier. Trust was stronger. I said was 18, that was good enough for everyone. I was in!

Boy was I nervous on the opening night. Shaking.

05 Mar

My Defence Against Dementia

by Jeremy Chance

It happened twice.

Two different people. Different days. Same result.

We are walking along the river, talking about a myriad of topics, in a free-flowing conversation. We jump from one topic to another – laughing, scowling, celebrating, worrying – it’s hard to keep track.

You know those kind of conversations?

I am usually the one who says “What was I saying?” Then some young thing quickly recites a full list of the last five ideas and how they connected.

Except, I was the young thing this time.