anxious face
The story
every single time I'm about to step into one of those big work meetings, I swear my face just decides to turn traitor on me. you know that moment in romcoms when the character tries to play it cool but their expression gives everything away? yeah, that’s me. it doesn’t matter how many deep breaths I take or how many pep talks I give myself, my face is like, "surprise! I’m anxious!" if anxiety had a neon billboard, mine would be flashing "nervous here" for all to see. I should’ve worn a poker face last week when Janet shot me that squinty look, like she could read my mind or something.
I’ve tried all the calming techniques that are supposed to work like magic for everyone else. you know, the meditation sessions with some soothing voice promising that everything will be fine? or the deep breathing exercises that feel more like I’m prepping for childbirth than a meeting? even thought about diving into one of those self-help books that just sit there, gathering dust. fake it till you make it sounds great until you’re in the hot seat, and then poof, your confident act is gone, thrown out the window like yesterday’s trash when your face spills the beans. back in high school drama club, our coach was all about mastering non-verbal acting skills, and who knew I’d need that so much now? kind of ironic, right?
but hey, not all is lost. I had this hilarious flashback to when I was fresh out of college, sweating bullets during an internship interview. I was so nervous, trying to turn my jitters into humor, and it totally backfired. the boss laughed and thought I had guts, so I got hired. now I’m some sort of office legend because of that. they say grin and bear it works, but I tried grinning in a meeting once and it just weirded everyone out. never again! I did try a hypnotherapy app once. surprisingly good for sleep. I literally forgot about that cool cucumber phase and just need to chill a bit. maybe if I practice visualizing a relaxing beach and listen to a soothing playlist before heading into work, I might just hit the right vibe. if only I could wipe out the bad signals overnight. just imagine handling everything smoothly and staying upbeat. that would be a dream come true. I can honestly say that a few moments of poise have pulled me out of some pretty awkward situations.
at least every meeting builds a bit of resilience, right? I guess I have to keep pushing through, even if my eyes look like a rabbit caught in headlights. I’m trying to keep it flexible, grateful for the chance to craft dad jokes and compile them in my mental database. projecting that potential to break the ice with a little humor in the next hectic meeting sounds like a solid plan. just wait till Monday in my power suit. I’ll be ready for battle, wobble whispers and all!
