Proposing marriage can be one of the most nerve-wracking experiences of your life. The pressure to make it perfect can be overwhelming, but there are ways to combat pre-proposal nerves and stay cool under pressure. In this article, we’ll provide you with five confidence-building tips to help you project the ease and confidence of a heavyweight champion.
Tip #1: Knock out nerves: Believe in your proposal power!
Visualize the proposal happening exactly as you hope it will. Make the best-case scenario happen in your mind. This New Age-y visualization method works for famous people like Michael Jordan, Jim Carrey and others, and it can work for you too.
Tip #2: Train like a champ: Rehearse your proposal game plan
Rehearse what you’re going to say at least three times. Read through your proposal out loud and stand in front of a mirror. If you can’t get through it without laughing or getting nervous, drive somewhere remote and run through your proposal. The car is a wonderfully secret place. No one will see. Get comfortable with what you’re going to say and how you’re going to say it.
Tip #3: Strike a pose: Find your power stance for proposal success
Stance is all-important for a boxer, but it can help you too. A surprising way to shake off your nervousness is to strike a power pose. Stand or sit in a way that tricks your brain into feeling confident and powerful. Put your arms akimbo and spread your feet apart, like Superman. Or lean back in your chair, fold your hands behind your head and kick your feet up on the desk, like a CEO who just bought out his biggest rival. Spend a few seconds in one of these “high-power nonverbal displays.”
Tip #4: Stay sober, stay cool: Keep a clear head for the big moment
Approach this task drug and alcohol-free. Save the intoxicants for after she says yes. This is a moment that demands peak performance. Don’t offset the proposal jitters with caffeine jitters. Nobody wants a jumpy groom.
Tip #5: Roll with the punches: Embrace the imperfections and enjoy the ride
Recognize the possibility that things will go wrong. Nothing is perfect, and the imperfections are what make life interesting. Maybe you’ll drop the ring as you present it to her, or maybe she’ll pass out before she says yes. That’s fine. It will give you a good story to tell your grandkids.
In conclusion, proposing marriage is a big moment in your life, but with these confidence-building tips, you’ll be ready to go into the ring, get the job done, and still come off as charming and sincere. Remember to visualize success, rehearse what you’re going to say, strike a power pose, stay drug and alcohol-free, and roll with the punches. By doing so, you’ll stay cool under pressure and have a proposal to remember for a lifetime.