Build Up Your Courage By Mentally Rehearsing Like A Movie Stuntman

Nervous about going after a particularly risky opportunity? Remember this advice from a movie stuntman: Mentally rehearse until you see the situation perfectly.

Photo by Marika Dalloco

Darrin Prescott, who has co-ordinated and performed stunts in commercials and movies such as Moneyball, Drive and Gone, says he pictures the entire scenario in fine detail at least 20 times from beginning to end.

Visualisation is nothing new, but one key part of Prescott’s preparation, which can take anywhere from minutes to hours on end (imagining himself jumping off a building or setting cars on fire), is this:

Each time, I imagine it going perfectly. If negative thoughts creep in, I push them out of my head and start over again.

In his mental rehearsals, there’s no room for error, and given his line of work, that makes total sense. If what you’re pursuing is very important to you too, reboot your visualisation every time a negative thought creeps in. You’ll find yourself bolder and more confident — as if you’ve done this a dozen times before.

5 Ways to Be Better at Risk-Taking [Real Simple]