In this brief motivational monologue, the speaker explores the psychological difference between feeling excited and feeling nervous, tracing both emotions back to the listener’s confidence—or lack thereof—in a future outcome. He explains that excitement stems from confidence in a positive, "magic" result, while nervousness arises from doubt about the same. The talk then shifts to the importance of anchoring oneself in the present moment, emphasizing that the present already contains everything needed to respond effectively. By repeatedly catching himself when his mind drifts toward future outcomes, the speaker advocates a practice of returning attention to the now and asking how one can act in the present. He concludes with the principle that actions outweigh feelings and emotions, encouraging listeners to let their deeds, not their fleeting feelings, define their day.
Chapters
Good morning, everyone. Here is your moment of yes for Wednesday, June 29th. Here we go. A little morning breakfast with Evan. All right. So, what is the difference between being excited and being nervous, right? Going into waking up for the day, being excited or being nervous, going into a game, being excited or being nervous. Going into a meeting, being excited or being nervous. What is, what is it that's the difference between the two? One, you have a sense of confidence. The other one, you have a lack of confidence. And the question is, you have confidence in what? Or a lack of confidence in what? And the answer would be, well, you say, well, my ability. Then say, okay, lack of confidence in your ability or confidence in your ability. Fair. But in what? It's your confidence or lack thereof in the result, in what is going to happen. If I go into a game and I'm really confident, I'm confident that I'm going to do well or that we're going to win. When I'm not confident, I'm not confident that I'm going to do well or I'm going to win, or I'm confident or not that I'll get the promotion. I'm confident or not, et cetera. Right? So this feeling of excitement and/or being nervous is essentially attached to what? That's right, the magic outcome, right? Over and over and over again, we talk about this idea that when we are in stress or anxiety, it's because we're focused on a potential negative outcome. When we're excited, we're thinking about a possible— Magic outcome. Um, positive outcome. And when we are just sort of, um, at peace, right, when we're at peace, it means that we are content with the present moment. The present moment has everything that we need, right? I don't need it to be different. Whatever's showing up, I know that I can respond and handle what is happening in the right here, the right now. Yes, and yes, and yes, and now, now, now. So I find myself constantly having to reel myself back in to notice that I'm thinking about a negative or a positive future outcome, even if that future is today or if that future is tomorrow. So I'm attached or thinking about that outcome, and then I need to catch myself. Boom. And come back to, well, what is going on right now and how can I impact what is happening right now? How can I be effective to what is happening right now? And we're always able to handle whatever need is happening in the moment right now. So are you confident or are you excited or are you nervous? Actually, your feelings matter less than your emotions. Your feelings matter less than your emotions, right? Or your actions. Your feelings matter less than your actions. Your actions are always greater than your feelings. Yeah, that's your moment of yes for today. Have a great day, everybody.
