"ما خودمون رو خیلی تحت فشار قرار می‌دیم. مثلاً اگر سعی کنی به خودت بقبولونی که «آه، این لحظه‌ی مهمیه، این شوت مهمیه»، داری خیلی فشار به خودت وارد می کنی. تو اون شوت رو صدها و هزاران بار زده‌ای. فقط یکی دیگه‌شو بزن."

You know how sometimes we turn simple things into grand, daunting tasks just by overthinking them? That's exactly what this quote is getting at. The essence of it is that we often psych ourselves out by making situations seem bigger and scarier than they really are. By doing that, we're putting unnecessary pressure on ourselves. The trick is to remember that we've done this before—whatever 'this' may be—and to just treat it as another repetition of something we're already familiar with.

Historically, this kind of advice is timeless, but it resonates particularly well with athletes, performers, or anyone who faces high-pressure situations regularly. Think about a basketball player who's about to take a game-winning shot. If they start thinking, "This is it. This is the most important shot of my life," they're likely to get jittery and mess up. But if they remind themselves that they've made this shot countless times in practice, it becomes just another shot.

Let's dig into a real-world example. Picture Serena Williams in a Grand Slam final. She’s played thousands of matches and hit millions of tennis balls. When she's serving for the championship point, she could easily psych herself out by thinking about the gravity of the moment. But instead, she tells herself it’s just another serve like the ones she practices every single day. This mindset helps her stay calm, focused, and more likely to execute her skills perfectly.

So how can you apply this wisdom in your own life? Start by recognizing those moments when you’re building something up in your mind. Maybe you’ve got a big presentation at work. Instead of thinking, “This is my career on the line,” remind yourself that you’ve presented many times before. You've done the prep work, you know the content—it's just another presentation. By reframing it this way, you reduce the pressure and increase your chances of success.

Now, let’s bring this to a more relatable scenario. Imagine you’re about to go on a first date with someone you really like. It’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking, “This has to be perfect. I need to impress them.” But that kind of thinking can make you nervous, awkward, or even inauthentic. Instead, remind yourself that you’ve had countless conversations in your life. This is just another chat with another person. Focus on being present and genuine rather than perfect.

When we think about our past experiences and the skills we've honed, we're better equipped to handle the present. Whether it’s a big game, an important meeting, or a nerve-wracking date, the principle remains the same: Don't let the moment become bigger than it is. Trust in the practice and preparation you’ve already put in. You’ve got this. Just take the shot.