What ADHDers Can Learn from Colin Mochrie
A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of attending the 2023 Applied Improvisation Network Conference. I arrived at the Improv Centre in Vancouver for registration, got my badge, got the lay of the land, and then walked outside. There, sitting on a bench, was one of the keynote speakers, Colin Mochrie of Whose Line Is It Anyway? fame. I was able to sit next to him and tell him how much he meant to me as an improv performer and practitioner of applied improvisation. Reflecting on my encounter with Mochrie and learning more about his life and career has led me to wonder how he can help those of us with ADHD.
Performing Can Help Us Overcome Struggles
“All the world’s a stage”
Mochrie has said that he was shy and a loner growing up. However, when convinced to audition for a play, he discovered a love for getting laughs and performing. Now, you would hardly know he had trouble socializing as a child. When I met him, he was lovely and was able to converse with everyone who walked up to him. Through his time on stage, Mochrie was able to overcome his struggles. I believe this can apply to anyone. Taking an improv class or workshop can provide a chance to learn new things and grow as a human being. If you have mountains to climb, perhaps it is time to explore improv or another acting-type endeavor.
The Importance of Friends
“Friendship is the hardest thing in the world to explain. It’s not something you learn in school. But if you haven’t learned the meaning of friendship, you really haven’t learned anything.”
In his early performing days, he met Ryan Stiles. This was before either of them were big names in the improv world. This friendship has lasted for decades. If it was not for this friendship, Colin would never have appeared on the U.K. version of Whose Line Is It Anyway? which led to him gaining fame and being a full-time member of the cast both in the U.K. and the U.S. After a couple of auditions and one bad performance on the U.K. show, the producers of the show were not interested in bringing him back for any future tapings of the show. However, because of their friendship and knowing Mochrie’s true ability as an improviser, Stiles interceded on Mochrie’s behalf and convinced the producers to give him another shot. This friendship set the stage for a long career as a professional improviser. Sometimes, our friends open doors for us. If we have some missteps in life, the aid of friends can help us move forward. Whether it’s an encouraging word or an intercession like Stiles made for Mochrie, it is important to have friends.
The Right Mindset for Performing to Our Full Potential
“[P]erformance anxiety can be understood as a matter of self-absorption, of misplaced attention, and the remedy lies in turning your attention to the act of whatever it is––well. (Or, if doing well seems a stretch at the moment, then do it adequately or even poorly, but do it.)”
Mochrie’s first appearance on the U.K.’s version of Whose Line Is It Anyway? did not go well for Mochrie. He has admitted he got into his head. He was not British and he was afraid the humor and references would be different and that he would not get laughs. This anxiety led to a bad performance and the producers giving up on him. However, when Stiles convinced the producers to give him another shot. This time, Mochrie did not let his worries get the best of him. He set those concerns aside and performed his best.
I have had similar experiences where I got in my head and did not perform as well as I knew I could. Yet, by changing my mindset, I was able to overcome earlier struggles. Yes, we are going to have worries and anxieties about how we are going to perform on stage, in a game, at school, or at work, but if we have the right mindset, we can set them aside and adopt a proper focus, leading to better performance.
The Importance of Humor
“Make someone laugh today, even if it is only yourself.”
Colin Mochrie is hilarious. He has used it to improve his life and further his career. Those of us with ADHD have terrific senses of humor. It is high time we embraced that to move us further in life. Some of us may have been told that we have a weird sense of humor, but that should not hold us back from being funny. If Colin Mochrie can use his humor to make a name for himself, then so can we. There is nothing wrong with having a zany sense of humor. In fact, it is a strength. Let’s move forward and laugh as we do so.