When Nerves Became Excitement

Rea,

Your field trip is coming up soon, and it’s normal to feel those butterflies in your stomach. Remember how you used to say you felt “nervecited”? That word you created is actually pretty brilliant - and science now shows you were onto something important.

When we feel nervous, most people tell us to “calm down.” But have you noticed how that rarely works? Trying to go from highly energized to completely calm is like trying to stop a speeding train instantly. Your heart keeps racing, your hands might still shake, and now you’re also worried about why you can’t calm down!

In 2014, a Harvard researcher named Alison Wood Brooks discovered something surprising. She found that instead of fighting against those nervous feelings, you can transform them by simply changing how you think about them.

In her study, people had to give speeches, solve math problems, or sing karaoke (imagine doing that in front of strangers!). Before starting, some were told to say “I am calm,” while others said “I am excited.” The people who said “I’m excited” performed 15-30% better than those trying to calm down.

Here’s the key discovery: the physical feelings of nervousness and excitement are almost identical. Your heart races, you get butterflies, your energy spikes - whether you’re nervous or excited. The only real difference is how you label those feelings in your mind.

Brooks found that when people relabeled their nervousness as excitement, they focused more on the opportunities in the situation rather than the threats. Instead of thinking about what could go wrong, they thought about what could go right.

Your “nervecited” word shows you already understand this connection. It’s like your body produces this energy, and you get to decide whether it’s a good or bad feeling.

Think of it like a river’s current. You can try to swim against it (calming down), which is exhausting. Or you can redirect that same energy by swimming with it in a new direction (reframing as excitement).

The US Olympic Committee knows how powerful this technique is. They have a special training called “Arousal Reappraisal Training” where athletes learn to reinterpret their body’s signals in high-pressure situations. Athletes like Michael Phelps, who won an incredible 23 Olympic gold medals in swimming, and gymnast Simone Biles have their own methods for turning nervous energy into peak performance. Instead of fighting those pre-competition butterflies, they recognize them as their body preparing for something important.

This small change in perspective has helped performers, athletes, and students transform their experiences from threatening to thrilling. The same physical energy that powers anxiety can fuel excitement instead.

Love, Abba