Creating a Greatest Hits Tape of Yourself in Your Head

This is from The Improv Handbook by Tom Salinsky and Deborah Frances-White:

Close your eyes and remember a moment in the workshop that was awful for you. You really got it wrong and you felt bad about it. Maybe you even cringe to think of it. Have you got a moment like that? If not, you don't need to worry. If you do, I want you to play that moment back now ... and then let it go. Breathe it out. If the moment haunts you when you're lying in bed or walking down the street -- see it and let it go. Generally, other people can only remember your good moments and their bad moments, so unless you continue to play it back, it will be gone forever. It's disposable.

Now think of a moment when you really had it. You were great! Maybe something you did or said made the audience really laugh or lean forward. Maybe it was a personal revelation about something. You felt talented in that moment. Okay -- you've all got a moment like that. Now play it back. Play it back. Play it back. When you go home tonight, lie in bed and construct a Greatest Hits Tape of all your best moments and play it over. By doing this you reinforce your own talent, and when you come to improvise again, your brain will remember it as something you love to do because you have a talent for it. You must reinforce your own talent because this is a tough business and you can't expect anyone else to do it for you. Never let a teacher, director or other performer make you feel untalented. One way to do this is make a Greatest Hits Tape in your head, add to it regularly and play it back often.