--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The only way for me to give a good…" description: "\"The only way for me to give a good performance is to make myself extremely uncomfortable - and it just so happens that being on stage makes me extremel..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0bb/willis-earl-beal-16819_giving_the-only-way-for-me-to-give-a-good-perfo_832082.jpg" --- # The only way for me to give a good performance is to make… ![“The only way for me to give a good performance is to make myself extremely uncomfortable - and it just so happens that being on stage makes me extremely uncomfortable.” quote by Willis Earl Beal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0bb/willis-earl-beal-16819_giving_the-only-way-for-me-to-give-a-good-perfo_832082.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0bb/willis-earl-beal-16819_giving_the-only-way-for-me-to-give-a-good-perfo_832082.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0bb/willis-earl-beal-16819_giving_the-only-way-for-me-to-give-a-good-perfo_832082.jpg) > “The only way for me to give a good performance is to make myself extremely uncomfortable - and it just so happens that being on stage makes me extremely uncomfortable.” [Willis Earl Beal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willis-earl-beal/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Performance excellence requires embracing discomfort, using stage anxiety as a catalyst. **In simple terms:** Discomfort fuels performance. Key Takeaway Use nervous energy to enhance art. Themes performance self-awareness growth Mood intense determined Type motivational reflective When to use this quote - public speaking - live music - theatre rehearsals Key Concepts psychology of anxiety artistic expression Questions to Reflect On - How do you transform anxiety? - When has discomfort helped you? A Different Perspective Excessive discomfort can hinder. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Stage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stage/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) [Uncomfortable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/uncomfortable/) ## Related quotes > [Whatever I feel uncomfortable about, I just say it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boosie/whatever-i-feel-uncomfortable-about-i-just-say-it/) [Boosie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boosie/) > [Unless you have the right legs, these mini-skirts are ungainly and uncomfortable. They're just a fad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cyd-charisse/unless-you-have-the-right-legs-these-mini-skirts-are-ungainly-and/) [Cyd Charisse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cyd-charisse/) > [I think in some ways it makes me feel uncomfortable, just getting a bunch of attention. I'd rather just stay chill and kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deandre-yedlin/i-think-in-some-ways-it-makes-me-feel-uncomfortable-just-getting-a/) [DeAndre Yedlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deandre-yedlin/) > [No matter how the day's going, when I get out there on that stage, it makes it all all right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cole-swindell/no-matter-how-the-day-s-going-when-i-get-out-there-on-that-stage-it/) [Cole Swindell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cole-swindell/) > [Being on stage makes me come to life. When all eyes are on you, they're watching every move you make.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-jonas/being-on-stage-makes-me-come-to-life-when-all-eyes-are-on-you-they-re/) [Joe Jonas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-jonas/) > [Because I was extremely uncomfortable talking about sex with him at all and particularly in such a graphic way, I told him that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anita-hill/because-i-was-extremely-uncomfortable-talking-about-sex-with-him-at/) [Anita Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anita-hill/) > [Wearing a corset is extremely uncomfortable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/florence-pugh/wearing-a-corset-is-extremely-uncomfortable/) [Florence Pugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/florence-pugh/) > [Tantric Zen, and the people who practice it, of course, make some people feel extremely uncomfortable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/tantric-zen-and-the-people-who-practice-it-of-course-make-some-people/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [I find it extremely uncomfortable and awkward as a man to have to stand on your tiptoes to kiss a girl.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-seacrest/i-find-it-extremely-uncomfortable-and-awkward-as-a-man-to-have-to/) [Ryan Seacrest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-seacrest/) > [It must be extremely uncomfortable to live with a writer - all that preoccupation and brooding.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-g-sebald/it-must-be-extremely-uncomfortable-to-live-with-a-writer-all-that/) [W. G. Sebald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-g-sebald/) > [“I knew I was making you uncomfortable, but I just had to make sure.” “So you knew all this time?” “Let’s say I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-aciman/i-knew-i-was-making-you-uncomfortable-but-i-just-had-to-make-sure-so/) [André Aciman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-aciman/) > [It's definitely hard for me watching myself on screen, it's very uncomfortable, but it's just like anything - the more you do it, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-stults/it-s-definitely-hard-for-me-watching-myself-on-screen-it-s-very/) [George Stults](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-stults/) > [What happens in the studio is technically the same thing that happens on the stage. In the past I had to make quite brutal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/squarepusher/what-happens-in-the-studio-is-technically-the-same-thing-that-happens/) Squarepusher > [Aimee and I are seen as very dour songwriters, and we're both kind of uncomfortable just talking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-penn/aimee-and-i-are-seen-as-very-dour-songwriters-and-we-re-both-kind-of/) [Michael Penn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-penn/) > [If you feel uncomfortable about something, just because you're in the public eye, it doesn't mean it doesn't hurt when people say things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-nurding/if-you-feel-uncomfortable-about-something-just-because-you-re-in-the/) [Louise Nurding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-nurding/) ## More by Willis Earl Beal > [I'd rather be somewhere building a house, if I knew how. The whole idea of being a professional artist is like a demeaning kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willis-earl-beal/i-d-rather-be-somewhere-building-a-house-if-i-knew-how-the-whole-idea/) [Willis Earl Beal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willis-earl-beal/) > [The person on the shrine is myself. I listen to my own music constantly. I made a whole other record already. I look at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willis-earl-beal/the-person-on-the-shrine-is-myself-i-listen-to-my-own-music/) [Willis Earl Beal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willis-earl-beal/) > [I think that live music is really pretentious - all of it. I hate festivals and live shows, because as soon as I get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willis-earl-beal/i-think-that-live-music-is-really-pretentious-all-of-it-i-hate/) [Willis Earl Beal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willis-earl-beal/) > [I haven't figured out how to do anything yet besides recording music - I don't even entirely know how to do that. My favorite…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willis-earl-beal/i-haven-t-figured-out-how-to-do-anything-yet-besides-recording-music/) [Willis Earl Beal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willis-earl-beal/) > [Actually, my ideal life would be to have an evergreen tree farm and, every December, I'd load them up and just stand out on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willis-earl-beal/actually-my-ideal-life-would-be-to-have-an-evergreen-tree-farm-and/) [Willis Earl Beal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willis-earl-beal/) > [I think the best way to listen to my music is through recording. I would love to be one of those artists where you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willis-earl-beal/i-think-the-best-way-to-listen-to-my-music-is-through-recording-i/) [Willis Earl Beal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willis-earl-beal/) > [I don't know what people want. I have delusions of grandeur, but I'm not sitting here talking to you and thinking that I'm the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willis-earl-beal/i-don-t-know-what-people-want-i-have-delusions-of-grandeur-but-i-m/) [Willis Earl Beal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willis-earl-beal/) > [In a way, the whole music industry is just catering to the inherent esteem issues all these artists have - it lays it all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willis-earl-beal/in-a-way-the-whole-music-industry-is-just-catering-to-the-inherent/) [Willis Earl Beal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willis-earl-beal/) > [I first saw Dead Man in high school, and it changed everything. That movie was like a memory to me - I would get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willis-earl-beal/i-first-saw-dead-man-in-high-school-and-it-changed-everything-that/) [Willis Earl Beal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willis-earl-beal/) > [I deteriorate. I might tell you something one day and then something else another day. You fold in on yourself and that's why this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willis-earl-beal/i-deteriorate-i-might-tell-you-something-one-day-and-then-something/) [Willis Earl Beal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willis-earl-beal/) > [I don't think talent has anything to do with inspiration. Inspiration creates talent. People prioritize innate talent too much. It gives them license to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willis-earl-beal/i-don-t-think-talent-has-anything-to-do-with-inspiration-inspiration/) [Willis Earl Beal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willis-earl-beal/) > [I was not in touch with reality. Growing up, I was being shielded without my knowing it, because even all the way up to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willis-earl-beal/i-was-not-in-touch-with-reality-growing-up-i-was-being-shielded/) [Willis Earl Beal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willis-earl-beal/) > [Sometimes I wish it were a simpler world. I love and hate people. When I say I hate people, I really truly mean it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willis-earl-beal/sometimes-i-wish-it-were-a-simpler-world-i-love-and-hate-people-when/) [Willis Earl Beal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willis-earl-beal/) > [I would much rather not be the center of attention, and I'd much rather travel and be writing my novel, rather than standing on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willis-earl-beal/i-would-much-rather-not-be-the-center-of-attention-and-i-d-much/) [Willis Earl Beal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willis-earl-beal/) > [I never actually sexually attacked anybody. But I'm a writer, too, and I was always trying to figure out a way to recreate the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willis-earl-beal/i-never-actually-sexually-attacked-anybody-but-i-m-a-writer-too-and-i/) [Willis Earl Beal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willis-earl-beal/) [Explore all 38 Willis Earl Beal quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willis-earl-beal/) ## More Giving quotes > [Only within yourself exists the other reality for which you long. I can give you nothing that has not already its being within yourself.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/only-within-yourself-exists-the-other-reality-for-which-you-long-i/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [The only people who think the Internet is a calamity are people whose lives have been hurt by it; the only people who insist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-klosterman/the-only-people-who-think-the-internet-is-a-calamity-are-people-whose/) [Chuck Klosterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-klosterman/) > [True works of art contain their own theory and give us the measurement according to which we should judge them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/true-works-of-art-contain-their-own-theory-and-give-us-the/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Crony capitalism is essentially a condition in which... public officials are giving favours to people in the private sector in payment of political favours.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-greenspan/crony-capitalism-is-essentially-a-condition-in-which-public-officials/) [Alan Greenspan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-greenspan/) > [Some people give you that motivation to work harder simply to get the hell away from wherever they are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dane-cook/some-people-give-you-that-motivation-to-work-harder-simply-to-get-the/) [Dane Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dane-cook/) > [You've touched people and known it. You've touched people and never may know it. Either way, you have something to give. It is in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-schlessinger/you-ve-touched-people-and-known-it-you-ve-touched-people-and-never/) [Laura Schlessinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-schlessinger/) > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [I received a beautiful welcome to the world of music. I want to give something back to the younger generation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luciano-pavarotti/i-received-a-beautiful-welcome-to-the-world-of-music-i-want-to-give/) [Luciano Pavarotti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luciano-pavarotti/) > [Eternal Trinity... mystery deep as the sea, You could give me no greater gift than the gift of Yourself. For You are a fire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-catherine-of-siena/eternal-trinity-mystery-deep-as-the-sea-you-could-give-me-no-greater/) [St. Catherine of Siena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-catherine-of-siena/) > [Faith gives you a certain structure and meaning to your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/riffat-hassan/faith-gives-you-a-certain-structure-and-meaning-to-your-life/) Riffat Hassan > [Grandma, please. It’s okay. Dad’s doing a great job. I give him kudos for at least being calm and rational, and not losing his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/grandma-please-it-s-okay-dad-s-doing-a-great-job-i-give-him-kudos-for/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [Most paper money initially existed as a substitute for gold. That's what gave it value. But right now what gives a currency value is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-schiff/most-paper-money-initially-existed-as-a-substitute-for-gold-that-s/) [Peter Schiff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-schiff/) > [Practically all animals which move fast in a homogeneous medium have found means of giving their body a streamlined shape, thereby reducing friction to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/konrad-lorenz/practically-all-animals-which-move-fast-in-a-homogeneous-medium-have/) [Konrad Lorenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/konrad-lorenz/) > [Give me strength to walk the soft earth, a relative to all that is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/black-elk/give-me-strength-to-walk-the-soft-earth-a-relative-to-all-that-is/) [Black Elk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/black-elk/) > [I don't think my relationship with the idea of womanhood is that attached to giving birth... like, I'm fully aware that I'll never give…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-harrison/i-don-t-think-my-relationship-with-the-idea-of-womanhood-is-that/) [Patti Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-harrison/) [Browse all 39,303 Giving quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The only way for me to give a good performance is to make myself extremely uncomfortable - and it just so happens that being on stage makes me extremely uncomfortable.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Willis Earl Beal" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willis-earl-beal/the-only-way-for-me-to-give-a-good-performance-is-to-make-myself/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Giving" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willis-earl-beal/the-only-way-for-me-to-give-a-good-performance-is-to-make-myself/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0bb/willis-earl-beal-16819_giving_the-only-way-for-me-to-give-a-good-perfo_832082.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0bb/willis-earl-beal-16819_giving_the-only-way-for-me-to-give-a-good-perfo_832082.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0bb/willis-earl-beal-16819_giving_the-only-way-for-me-to-give-a-good-perfo_832082.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The only way for me to give a good performance is to make myself extremely uncomfortable - and it just so…” — Willis Earl Beal", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Willis Earl Beal", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willis-earl-beal/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The only way for me to...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willis-earl-beal/the-only-way-for-me-to-give-a-good-performance-is-to-make-myself/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willis-earl-beal/the-only-way-for-me-to-give-a-good-performance-is-to-make-myself/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```