Rewiring Your Mind: Turning Anxiety into Excitement

Did you know that your body reacts the same way to anxiety as it does to excitement?

Yes—excitement has almost the exact same physiological effect on our bodies as anxiety does—to include elevated heart rate, rapid breathing, butterflies in your stomach, and that little twitchy thing you do with your left eye.

This is why, according to research by Harvard business school professor Allison Wood Brooks, we shouldn’t try to “calm down” when we’re anxious. We should actually try to shift into a state of excitement.

Sometimes, the only difference between anxiety and excitement is the story that we tell ourselves about what we feel happening in our bodies. When we feel anxious, we might be resisting what the future may hold. When we feel excited, it’s because we’re ready to welcome what the future may bring with open arms. In other words, excitement is connected to joy and anxiety is connected to fear.

When you feel anxious about the future, choosing to welcome what may come is one of the best things you can do for your mental health. You can’t ignore your curiosity about the future, but you can frame your curiosity differently. You can acknowledge your fears while making space for joy. With intentionality, self-awareness, and practice, you can turn your anxiety into excitement.

Think about the good things that may happen as a result of your willingness to step into uncharted territory and try something new. Think about the exciting possibilities that are coming into a focus as a result of your forward momentum. Think about how your willingness to step out on faith will make you into a better person in the long run.