[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"$fbtGZ1OpfkcndEmpPC20pxW6HHohTDsjhFya8iDakRLI":3,"$f1omnW8HPnBpF2ojnoQp2z6ONZ0gNJ8UDJxh6OnpIqh4":12},{"author":4,"tags":11},{"author_id":5,"author_name":6,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"bio":9,"short_bio":9,"slug":10,"image_url":9},15601,"Lesa Howard","L",5,null,"lesa-howard",[],{"quotes":13,"pagination":148},[14,27,59,85,129],{"id":15,"quote_text":16,"author_id":5,"source_id":17,"has_image":18,"author":19,"source":20,"quote_tag":21,"commentary":9},762541,"You have to admit, it would be cool,\" Van said. \"Think about it. The Wakefield Center could have its own Phantom of the Opera.\"Jenna raised a halting hand. \"Whoa, wait a minute there, Andrew Llyod Webber. There is no ghost. All this was the two of you, wasn't it?\" She pointed an accusing finger at the boys. \"Admit it.",2,false,{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[22],{"id":23,"tag":24},3619632,{"id":25,"tag_name":26},29538,"phantom-of-the-opera",{"id":28,"quote_text":29,"author_id":5,"source_id":17,"has_image":18,"author":30,"source":31,"quote_tag":32,"commentary":58},296878,"Without any music, I started to dance. I wanted the music to be inside me, or at least for it to appear that way. I imagined myself the lead with an audience here to see me perform in a famous ballet. In my fantasy, there was no panic attack. I was free to dance. Free to be me.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[33,38,43,48,53],{"id":34,"tag":35},1805224,{"id":36,"tag_name":37},222,"inspirational",{"id":39,"tag":40},1805225,{"id":41,"tag_name":42},268,"motivation",{"id":44,"tag":45},1805222,{"id":46,"tag_name":47},520,"dance",{"id":49,"tag":50},1805223,{"id":51,"tag_name":52},526,"dancing",{"id":54,"tag":55},1805226,{"id":56,"tag_name":57},1207,"performance","**The Backstory**\nThis poignant reflection is from Lesa Howard, a renowned author and dancer who has courageously shared her personal struggles with anxiety and performance pressure. Written in the context of her own creative journey, Howard's words capture the essence of self-empowerment through imaginative expression.\n\n**The Hidden Insight**\nThe profound paradox revealed here is that true freedom lies not in external validation or the absence of fear, but rather in internalizing one's creativity and desires. By \"imagining\" herself on stage without panic attacks, Howard illustrates how the human mind can transcend its limitations by embracing fantasy as a tool for emotional liberation.\n\n**How to Use This**\nTo apply this mindset today, professionals and creatives should recognize that their inner critic is not an immutable entity, but rather a malleable force that can be reimagined through creative exercises. By regularly engaging in self-directed fantasies of success, one can develop the resilience needed to push past fear and embody confidence.",{"id":60,"quote_text":61,"author_id":5,"source_id":17,"has_image":18,"author":62,"source":63,"quote_tag":64,"commentary":9},123629,"Asking a parent not to be a parent is like asking the sun not to be hot or snow not to be cold.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[65,70,75,80],{"id":66,"tag":67},822045,{"id":68,"tag_name":69},25,"love",{"id":71,"tag":72},822046,{"id":73,"tag_name":74},99,"parenting",{"id":76,"tag":77},822044,{"id":78,"tag_name":79},240,"kids",{"id":81,"tag":82},822043,{"id":83,"tag_name":84},382,"children",{"id":86,"quote_text":87,"author_id":5,"source_id":17,"has_image":18,"author":88,"source":89,"quote_tag":90,"commentary":9},98058,"After that, I’d wanted to date, but I simply didn’t know how. It seemed to come natural to everyone else, pairing up and going out. And now, well, I felt like a nonparticipant, like there was a schedule to be followed and I was so far behind I’d never get caught up.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[91,96,99,104,109,114,119,124],{"id":92,"tag":93},672267,{"id":94,"tag_name":95},3,"humor",{"id":97,"tag":98},672269,{"id":68,"tag_name":69},{"id":100,"tag":101},672266,{"id":102,"tag_name":103},78,"dating",{"id":105,"tag":106},672270,{"id":107,"tag_name":108},101,"relationships",{"id":110,"tag":111},672273,{"id":112,"tag_name":113},381,"youth",{"id":115,"tag":116},672272,{"id":117,"tag_name":118},955,"teens",{"id":120,"tag":121},672271,{"id":122,"tag_name":123},2645,"teenager",{"id":125,"tag":126},672268,{"id":127,"tag_name":128},6279,"kid",{"id":130,"quote_text":131,"author_id":5,"source_id":17,"has_image":18,"author":132,"source":133,"quote_tag":134,"commentary":9},67004,"Sometimes the stage terrifies me,” I confessed. “But being here alone like this, it’s freeing.”Solitude can be freeing,” he said.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[135,140,143],{"id":136,"tag":137},465100,{"id":138,"tag_name":139},54,"solitude",{"id":141,"tag":142},465097,{"id":36,"tag_name":37},{"id":144,"tag":145},465098,{"id":146,"tag_name":147},32863,"performing",{"currentPage":149,"totalPages":149,"totalItems":8,"itemsPerPage":150},1,10]