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Composure

Composure: the state or feeling of being calm and in control of oneself.

Growing up, I can think of many situations where in hindsight, I could have had more composure; some self-control. I think back to incidents such as losing my temper and getting into fights in school after being riled up by bullies. I think of the many times I have felt angry or upset if something went against me and I've let it ruin the remainder of that day, by acting stand-offish and feeling indignant all the time, even just feeling sorry for myself. As the years passed, I learnt to control myself in difficult situations, reacting by not reacting, keeping calm and measured. I figured this was the best way to deal with difficult situations where someone overcome with emotion would struggle and make the situation a lot worse. 

In more recent times, I have required composure for very different things. Less about interactions with other people, and more to do with the things I enjoy doing. I have found this to be the key difference between 'the best', and 'the rest'. Currently, I am part of 'the rest'. 

In football, composure is scoring when you are through on goal with just the keeper to beat, or scoring the match winning penalty. In tennis, it's the winning shot when you've had to sprint across the whole court to get to the ball. In music, it's performing in front of people just like the way you've practiced it hundreds of times in a room by yourself. 

So how do you improve your composure? My advice is to practise being in the difficult situation as much as possible, and always be confident in yourself even if you're just pretending.

But don't just take it from me! Here's Forbes' 7 ways of maintaining composure:

1. Don't Allow Your Emotions to Get in the Way
2. Don't Take Things Personally
3. Keep a Positive Mental Attitude 
4. Remain Fearless 
5. Respond Decisively 
6. Take Accountability
7. Act Like You Have Been There Before
  

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