How to Turn Nervous Energy in to Something Positive

Today is the first day of the Business Brilliantly group program. This day has been in the works for well over a year. Matter of fact, if I was being honest, this was a dream that I first had back over 5 years ago.

A lot of planning has gone in to today. A lot of work. A lot of energy. I’ve tested what I’m teaching, I know what I’m talking about. And yet?

I am FREAKING OUT.

I am nervous as hell.

I mean, logically? I know it will all be ok. But logic doesn’t help in this situation. What if every last bit of technology fails? What if no one can access the class? What if I forget everything I know (like, EVERYTHING) and I go blank when the online class starts?!? What if, what if, what if?

All of this is a good thing. Completely natural. Being nervous, that is what keeps us ALIVE. My senses are on high alert – I hear every single bird chirp outside, I smell things I wouldn’t normally notice, my body feels like it is humming. My body was built to do that so that I would survive.

My nerves are what have helped me make sure that everything is tested and running, working just like I want it.

They are also making me feel completely stressed out.

Here is where the magic trick that my friend Lisa taught me comes in. Do you know how to deal with the nervous energy?

Tell yourself that you are EXCITED.

Your body has no way of telling the difference between the feelings of “I am so nervous!” and “I am so excited!” Every time you start to feel nervous? Tell yourself how excited you are!

She told me this the night before I spoke at WPPI last year, and the morning of my class? I just kept saying it over and over again, out loud. “I am SO EXCITED! I AM SO EXCITED!!!”

It worked. Every time I do it, it works.

My friend Jane reminded me of it this morning. I have nothing to be nervous about. It is just excitement that I’m feeling. Excited, excited, excited.

Add to that some power stances – thank you Amy Cuddy for the TED talk on doing those and how body language impacts you, and you’re all set.

Now don’t mind me as I stand in my super woman pose and chant about how EXCITED I am over and over – I’ve got a class to teach in a few hours, and I truly CAN NOT WAIT!