Try this the next time you’re nervous

A cognitive reframe for anxiety

A few months ago, I was booked on a CNN primetime show to talk about political anxiety—an opportunity that, ironically, provoked no small amount of anxiety for me.

As a guy who famously had a panic attack on Good Morning America, public speaking always makes me nervous. I live with the abiding fear that my mind—and mouth—will mutiny on me when the red light goes on.

As luck would have it, on the afternoon before my CNN appearance, I was preparing for an upcoming interview with Ian Robertson, a neuroscientist who wrote a book about confidence. One of the many techniques Robertson recommends is to reframe your anxiety as excitement.

So I tried it. I told myself: Dude, this dread you’re feeling, it’s really because you give a shit. You’re excited to disseminate useful information. Not for nothing, going back on TV will also probably be fun—and good for your nascent business.

As you may know, I do not believe in panaceas, but this technique was genuinely helpful. (Belts and suspenders: I also took a beta blocker.) The appearance went off without a hitch.

So give this strategy a try yourself. And while you’re at it, check out today’s pod episode with Ian, who has tons of tips for boosting confidence.

Click to watch or listen.

Below, paid subscribers get an episode cheatsheet, which includes key takeaways, time-coded highlights and a full transcript. Paid subscribers can also join the chat, comment on posts, participate in monthly live AMAs, and more.

Episode cheatsheet

The big takeaway

In this episode, neuroscientist Ian Robertson explains that confidence is a learnable skill with profound effects on the brain, and shares science-backed strategies for boosting healthy confidence while avoiding overconfidence.