The first of everything is always nerve wrecking. There’s a million thoughts that go through our mind. We think how it will play out over and over. That can be a first date, first day on the job, first time presenting. Whatever it may be, it’s on our minds, a lot.
When you’re in this type of situation think about how it’ll be a great day. Before stepping into a presentation, remind yourself that you’ll be okay. When meeting someone new, focus on how much you’re going to like them, avoiding judgment. In the face of challenges, tell yourself, ‘It’s going to work out.’ There are situations in life that we sometimes dread or misunderstand. James Clear wisely said, ‘Whenever you go into a situation, try to keep a mindset of baseline optimism.’ Think positively, and chances are, positive outcomes will follow.
You might face some challenges, but those would have arisen regardless. Entering any situation with baseline optimism sets you up for success. James Clear continues, stating that his ‘preference is to assume [he is] on a winning path until proven otherwise.’ It’s a much healthier mindset than assuming defeat from the start. Walk in with your head held high and positive thoughts, which will give you the confidence and drive to excel. But don’t forget to put in effort—without it, you’re setting yourself up to fail.
Any new or unexpected situation makes you hesitate and consider the risks of continuing. Your mind treats these situations as potential threats, putting you on high alert to evaluate everything that could go wrong. It pushes you to search for ways to avoid them. Often, this stems from a fear of embarrassment or humiliation from past experiences. Sometimes this relates to stories from friends, social media or movies that resonated with you. While your mind is trying to protect you, it’s important to recognize that you’re not facing imminent danger.
Once you become aware of this pattern, you can take control of your mind and flip the script. Rather than walking away, embrace the challenge. Shift your perspective and approach situations with baseline optimism. By reframing your mindset to, ‘I will be great. This will be rewarding. I will learn something. This is exciting. It will be a good experience,’ you’ve already won the first step.
Starting something new is often the scariest part because we fear the unknown. But once you begin, you gradually become more comfortable. You don’t need to dive in headfirst—you just need to take the first step. We may hesitate, explore, and second-guess ourselves, but eventually, you must take action. With each step, the next one becomes easier, and over time, you’ll feel more at ease in uncertain situations. Begin with baseline optimism.
Start each new journey with a foundation of optimism, and watch how your confidence grows.
Take care.