Issue 23 | Jan. 21st, 2022
8&21
Welcome to your three-minute pause. 
This is your practice space.

 
I'm so nervous. Thank goodness.
"After 10 years of speaking, I still get nervous. Just yesterday, when I was about to give keynote at an industry conference in Charleston—I felt like I was all butterflies. 
 
I used to think being nervous meant I wasn't cut out for speaking. Surely the real professional speakers don't get nervous? I wanted to stop the butterflies—and when I couldn't, I felt like a fraud. 
 
I've learned to live with the butterflies. Now. I'm thankful for them.
 
I know, I know…  thankful? When your palms get sweaty, or when you think you might lose your breakfast… you're thankful for that feeling?
Here's the thing: I get nervous because I care. So much. 
 
Thank goodness I feel nervous—it means I still care. That I'm excited about what I'm doing with my life.
from Thurs, Jan. 20th   - 
I'm not saying it's easy. Sometimes… I wish the butterflies would chill. Just a little. 
 
But I remind myself that the nerves are a sign of how much I care—how passionate I am, how much speaking means to me—and then it's easier to ride the wave."
 
- Dr. Sarah Glova, Co-Editor of 8&21 and speaker who still gets butterflies on stage

 
“Hello, fear. Thank you for being here. 
 
You’re my indication that I’m doing what I need to do.”
― Cheryl Strayed, Brave Enough

 
Nervous? Or excited?
"Even after all these years of teaching and presenting, I still feel the effects of adrenaline before it's my turn to speak—my heart beats faster, I feel warm, my stomach feels funny, and my hands get a little shaky. 
Over time, I’ve learned to 
embrace those feelings 
and reframe them as 
excitement or anticipation.
Those physical reactions become the buzz that energizes me to get my message out to my audience."
 
- Dr. Sarah Egan Warren, Co-Editor of 8&21 and speaker/educator who's always reminding herself that no one else can feel her nerves, all they see is her passion for the topic and respect for her audience

 
“I get butterflies… 
I get nervous and anxious, but I think those are all good signs that I'm ready for the moment.”
 
- Professional NBA player and 3-time NBA Champion, 2-time regular season MVP Stephen Curry

 
Terrified… 
try anyway?
 
“When you’ve never been in front of the camera 
before, it can be terrifying, and I suffer from really 
bad anxiety a lot of the time because it’s all so 
new to me and I’m actually quite shy. 
 
I hope this encourages people to just step out 
of their comfort zone and try something they 
normally wouldn’t try.”
- Tan France, Fashion designer known for his role on Queer Eye

 
“You don't have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step.”
 
- Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

 
A healthy amount of scared.
Psychologist Amy Bucher on doing things that scare us: 
 
“Just as there seems to be an optimal level of stress for growth and learning, a certain amount of fear can lead to high performance. Fear signals there’s something of consequence on the line, a reason to exert effort.”

 
What do you do 
that you love so much
it still gives you 
nervous butterflies?

 
Great job!
Way to take a pause and give 3 minutes to your practice of pursuing awesome 
with this issue's theme. You rock!
 
Did someone forward you this email?
Welcome! 8&21 is a digital publication sent on the 8th and 21st 
to disrupt your status-quo with an encouraging reset.

Keep going!
Here's more you might love:

 

 

Photo Credits: 
 
Photo of Tan France from Wikimedia Commons.
Butterflies photo by Shot by Cerqueira on Unsplash

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