4 Tips to Help Embrace Your Nerves

You find yourself in a situation where you are about to step out of your comfort zone, to try something new and perhaps extremely intimidating. Maybe you are about to get up in front of your peers to give a speech or presentation; or you find yourself endlessly rehearsing the speech you plan to give your boss, asking for a raise you know you deserve; or perhaps you are about to have a much overdue heart-to-heart conversation with a loved one.

What is the one common denominator in all these scenarios?? You feel NERVOUS! You feel sick to your stomach, your temperature is rising, your palms are getting sweaty; it’s the worst.

So often we focus solely on trying NOT to be nervous.

Here’s the thing… regardless of how hard you try not to be, you are still going to be nervous in these types of situations. In my opinion, the reason you are nervous is because you care, this is important to you. It’s something that matters. You’ve often worked long and hard to be in this position, or it’s something you’ve been wanting to do, or have been thinking about, for a long time.

If it wasn’t important to you, you wouldn’t care as much and probably wouldn’t be nearly as nervous. Am I right? So instead of putting all your energy into fighting your nerves, which quite frankly aren’t going anywhere, why not put your energy into being better prepared and more confident as you enter the situation.

Here ARE 4 TIPS TO HELP YOU MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR NERVES

1. Make A Pros VS Cons List 📝

   Tackling a new activity? Focus on why you want to do the thing in the first place. how excited, fulfilled, happy confident will you feel after completing it? What’s the downside? Will you be disappointed with yourself, or feel left out, if you don’t give it a try? What’s the worst thing that could happen? Often the answer to that question is REGRET.

2. Practice Makes Perfect ✨

   Getting ready for a public speaking engagement? Practice. Rehearse. know your material. Be confident. Go into your presentation ready to deliver your material, ready to make a difference, t enlighten, to encourage, to educate your audience.

3. Have Your Talking Points Ready 📍

   Asking for a raise? Have your talking points ready. Be prepared to share specific accomplishments. Competitive analysis is helpful; what are others earning with your education, experience, and expertise in similar industries, competing companies etc. You are, and always. will be, your own best advocate. Don’t be afraid to toot your own horn. Oftentimes, your hard work and accomplishments are simply not known by those in the position to adjust your salary.

4. Listen to Your Heart 💕

   Needing to have a serious, maybe difficult, conversation with a loved one? How important are they to you? Don’t you owe it to them to let them know how you are truly feeling? Will your relationship benefit positively in the long run if/when you have this conversation? Prepare your thoughts ahead of time and go into the conversation with a loving and open heart. You’ll thank yourself later. They probably will too.

Friends, the nervousness isn’t going anywhere. Remind yourself that you are nervous because you care. In all the examples provided above, you are nervous over potentially good things in your life; things you can be thankful for, things that will help you grow as a person. Pause and think about this for a moment; so often people are nervous over difficult and painful things they are facing in life…a sick loved one in the hospital, the loss of a job, an uncertain medical diagnosis of their own, etc. But this isn’t you right now, you are nervous about a good thing. Go ahead and embrace the nerves!

The next time you feel nervous because of an upcoming event that has the potential to be POSITIVE to your life, your career, or your relationships; BE THANKFUL. Invest your energy into preparation. Accept your nerves as simply a by-product of caring.

Now go out and do the thing! 🌻