This blog post has been authored by Stand Out Online Member Abbey Dyer-Amonette, Lead with Positivity

I was prepping for a speaking gig this week and wondered, do you ever get a case of nerves?

Being nervous about a speaking engagement or even making a difficult decision is so normal. Happens to people all the time.

But when a challenging decision or situation presents itself, you can try reframing it before you proceed.

When a challenging decision is pending, try reframing it before you proceed.

For example, if you experience anxiety before public speaking, a trainer will teach you that the feelings you’re having are not anxiety but are, instead, excitement about being able to speak.

The idea of anxiety is that you’re afraid, nervous, and uneasy. All those things feel bad. By turning your “anxiety” into “excitement,” “energy,” and “passion,” you channel your energy about speaking so you’re successful.

It’s all about learning to channel that energy in a new way. If you can view your anxiety as not a bad feeling to avoid, but a good feeling of excitement, the anxiety can become easier to get through positively.

Recategorizing how you think about a feeling or situation can work anytime you are confronted by a new challenge.

​​When you face a challenge that makes you nervous, recategorize the thought as an opportunity. The idea of facing a challenge can bring on feelings of being tested and a possibility of “failing.”

But if you can organize your thoughts in a success-focused way, the challenge facing you becomes an opportunity to learn something new and exciting.

​​When you see challenges as events that give you an opportunity to make improvements and open new doors, it suddenly becomes exciting to face that challenge.

When you view a challenge as an opportunity, you evaluate the idea better than if you see it in a negative light.

You can evaluate whether the challenge is realistic or not, in terms of your overall goals and objectives, as well as whether you want this opportunity.

Abbey Dyer-Amonette is an Alignment Coach and Success Strategist. After traumatic life experiences, including bullying and fertility issues created self-doubt and anger, she found purpose and positivity by creating strategies to develop and maintain a success mindset. She is dedicated to helping others move past blocks and limiting beliefs, to create a life and business that gives them joy. Dyer-Amonette has been a corporate leader for 20+ years, coaching and mentoring leaders with a Fortune 100 company. She also has a handmade product business that creates leather goods and jewelry inspired by nature.