Unmasking the Truth: Can You Be Confident and Nervous at the Same Time?
Being nervous isn’t bad. It just means something important is happening.
Michael Jordan
"Can you be confident and nervous at the same time?"
Many people believe that if they are feeling nervous, it means they lack confidence. However, we're here to shed some light on this misconception.
It's a misconception that being nervous implies a lack of confidence. In reality, nerves and confidence are not mutually exclusive. Nervousness often arises from unfamiliar situations, new audiences, or uncertainty about the outcome. It can come with a range of physical sensations, such as butterflies in the stomach and a faster heartbeat.
Feeling nervous is actually quite common, especially in new situations. But here's the important point: being nervous does not automatically mean you lack confidence.
I have a YouTube video Confidence vs Nerves where I talk about this topic, you can watch it, or if you prefer to read, keep going.
Confidence is not solely based on the absence of nervousness.
Nervousness is not inherently negative, it is a part of being human. It often accompanies new experiences and challenges. When you embrace the feeling of being nervous this allows for personal growth as it pushes you out of your comfort zone.
When facing uncertainty, acknowledging your nerves as a natural response can help you build confidence over time. It’s essential to recognize that feeling nervous doesn’t invalidate your confidence in your abilities and knowledge.
Your confidence comes from your knowledge and understanding of a topic or from your belief in yourself and your abilities.
Confidence can coexist with nervousness.
Think about it like this:
Imagine you're attending a networking meeting, giving a speech to a new audience, or conducting a training session with an unfamiliar group. You might feel nervous about these situations because they are new and uncertain. However, deep down, you can still have confidence in your skills and knowledge. Even your previous experiences can remind you that you can do it and that you did it.
So, it is possible to feel both confident and nervous simultaneously.
It is important to distinguish between feeling nervous and lacking confidence, as the two are not mutually exclusive. It is important to acknowledge and accept your nerves for what they are - normal reactions to unfamiliar or uncertain circumstances. It is okay to feel nervous. Remind yourself that it does not mean you lack confidence.
By consistently facing new challenges and embracing unfamiliar situations, you can gradually develop and strengthen your confidence. It is a journey; it takes time and experience to grow in confidence. By embracing your nerves you can develop and strengthen your confidence over time.
The key is to embrace the idea of feeling both nervous and confident at the same time.
Remember to separate your feelings and emotions to better understand your own confidence, fears, and nervousness. Identifying your source of apprehension allows you to address and overcome it.
Ask yourself:
Is it solely nerves stemming from uncertainty, or is there a genuine lack of confidence in yoneself?
Understanding this distinction will enable you to work on building confidence in areas where it may be lacking.
Being confident and nervous simultaneously is part of the human experience. Navigating the interplay between nerves and confidence is a learning experience and it can take time and patients to learn the difference. It involves acknowledging the emotions attached to each and understanding their impact.
Dealing with your emotions can feel scary and overwhelming.
But with every instance of nerves or confidence your expereince can be an opportunity for reflection and growth. The important thing to remember that when you learn from these experiences and process the emotions, and learn to understand the the balance, you build your confidence more and more.
Understanding the differences of nerves and confidence can empower you to navigate new experiences with resilience and self-assurance. By acknowledging the distinction between the two, you can embrace nerves as a pathway to growth, all the while fostering confidence in your abilities.
Embracing the balance between nerves and confidence is an integral part of your personal and professional journey. So, embrace them both and learn from them. Allow yourself to be the amazing human that you are and utilise your nerves as strenght as you build your confidence.
Now that you have read the blog, maybe you would like to watch the video I created for YouTube Confidence vs Nerves. The video might help you and give you a better perspective.
Remember to live your life with confidence!
Chat soon
Natalie
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