Welcome to chapter 25- Nerves
Nerves are not a bad sign. They are not proof that you’re incapable, unprepared, or about to fail. Nerves are a feeling — an emotion — and emotions are signals. More often than not, nerves show up when something truly matters to you.
We don’t get nervous about things we don’t care about. We don’t feel our heart race over opportunities that mean nothing. We feel nervous before the interview we really want, the conversation that could change everything, the risk that could move us forward. Nerves are often attached to desire. They appear when there is something at stake — when we care deeply about the outcome.
Somewhere along the way, we were taught to interpret nerves as danger. If you feel nervous, don’t do it. If you feel shaky, step back. If your voice trembles, maybe you’re not ready. But that isn’t always true. Growth feels unfamiliar. Stepping outside of your comfort zone will naturally create a physical response. Your body is alert because you are stretching beyond what feels safe.
There are always two voices in these moments. One says, “You’re nervous. This might go wrong. Stay where you are.” The other says, “You’re nervous because this matters. Go anyway.” The first voice prioritises comfort. The second prioritises growth. And the life you build depends on which one you choose to follow.
Nerves and excitement can feel almost identical. A racing heart, butterflies, heightened awareness — your body doesn’t clearly separate fear from anticipation. The difference is often the story you attach to the feeling. If you tell yourself nerves are a warning, you will retreat. If you tell yourself nerves are a sign that you care, you will lean in.
Imagine missing out on everything you truly want because you mistook nerves for a red flag. The job you didn’t apply for. The idea you didn’t share. The boundary you didn’t set. The dream you didn’t chase. All because you believed being nervous meant you weren’t capable.
Courage is not the absence of nerves. Courage is moving forward with them. It’s allowing your hands to shake and still speaking. It’s feeling your heart race and still stepping up. It’s understanding that discomfort is often the doorway to expansion.
So don’t let the voice that labels nerves as “bad” make your decisions for you. Pause and ask yourself why you’re feeling them. Is it because something is wrong? Or is it because something is important?
Most of the time, nerves are not there to stop you. They are there because you’re standing at the edge of something that could change you. They are a reminder that you care, that you want more, that you’re about to grow.
Let me leave this with you: God has not given a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7).
Love Shana xx
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