Competing on “Dancing With the Stars” on television screens all over the world can feel absolutely daunting. But for one former competitor, pro dancer Derek Hough made all the difference.
In her new memoir, the season 18 runner-up describes overcoming mental blocks to put on a performance of a lifetime.
Derek Hough Calmed Amy Purdy’s Anxiety Before a Major Performance
GettyParalympian Amy Purdy made DWTS history when she became the first double amputee to compete on the show. She and her partner Derek Hough finished in second place during season 18, ultimately losing the Mirrorball trophy to Maks Chmerkovskiy and Meryl Davis.
However, Amy learned a valuable calming technique from her dance partner that she took with her long after the season ended.
During the competition, Amy Purdy and Derek Hough performed a contemporary routine to “Human” by Christina Perri. They dedicated the dance to Amy’s father, who donated his kidney to her after hers both failed.
Naturally, it was an incredibly vulnerable moment for the athlete. Her anxiety grew and she wasn’t sure she could perform at all.
“During the commercial break, before we went onstage, I felt incredibly nervous,” Amy recalls in her memoir, shared with PEOPLE. “I remember telling Derek, ‘I feel like I’m going to get really emotional out there. How am I going to do this? It’s hard enough balancing on my feet, and now I’m going to be emotional while doing it!'”
GettyDerek then told Amy to describe what she felt grateful for in that moment. She told him she was thankful for her father’s gift that allowed her to get well. The professional dancer called the mental exercise “gratitude stacking.”
“By stacking gratitude on top of gratitude, I started to replace the anxiety that was breaking me down with empowerment and confidence,” Amy wrote. “By thinking of all the amazing things I had to be grateful for, I started to feel strong.”
Amy Purdy Promotes Resilience & Healthy Coping Tools in Her New Book
Fans have been eagerly awaiting Amy Purdy’s book for months now.
“After losing my legs below the knees at 19 and later facing another life-altering injury, I realized that resilience isn’t about staying strong, it’s about having tools to lean on when you’re not,” the athlete shared with PEOPLE in January. “I’m excited to finally share this book because people always ask me ‘Amy how do you stay strong? How do you keep moving forward?’ This book is my answer.”
Amy Purdy’s memoir, “Bounce Forward: 21 Tools to Live a Life Beyond Limits,” is now available for purchase.
Derek Hough and the rest of the “Dancing With the Stars” cast are expected to return for season 35 this September.
