What if I mess up?
What if they don’t like me?
What if the owner isn’t impressed?

Truth be told, imposter syndrome still gets me sometimes.

And just the other day, I was nervous as hell driving to a brand new yoga studio to teach for the first time.

Yet underneath the anxiety, there was another feeling.
One that grounded me in my truth and reminded me I’m on the right path.

Here’s the backstory ⬇️

A friend recently recommended me to a local studio looking for a Power Vinyasa instructor.

Always excited for new opportunities, I followed up immediately, scheduled a call, and got on the books for an audition.

I started prepping both mentally and physically.

Then they asked if I could actually teach sooner.

Yes.

Then they asked if I could teach another.

Yes.

Before I knew it, they were asking me to teach five classes over the next week, including taking over Fridays at 6pm.

Yes.
Yes.
Yes.

As I grow my career as a yoga teacher, I intentionally say yes to every possible opportunity because I believe quality reps are imperative to building a strong foundation.

But here's the thing:

I was freaking NERVOUS.

New studio.
New students.
New environment.

And although I was nervous, I was freaking excited.

Because I believe nervous excitement can be a great place to be.

And I’ve learned to embrace nervousness as a North Star - to lean into resistance rather than run from it.

Sure, what if it goes wrong? is a normal thought.

But what if it goes right?
What if people love it?

Either way, the experience itself is what matters most.

Leaning into the discomfort, knowing that, as cliché as it sounds, growth happens outside of our comfort zones.

(P.S. - I’m a firm believer in clichés because they are usually so freaking true)

I believe in the concept of stretching our comfort zones by 4%.

Not so much that I'm overwhelmed,
but just enough to be fully locked in.

Present.
Focused.
Engaged.

Flow state.

During my first class at the new studio, I was dialed in.

I literally forgot the outside world existed.
I was completely alive.

Uncomfortable.
Yet fully capable.

Thanks to embracing discomfort, believing in myself, and going for it.

Reminding myself that the work I’ve done has brought me to this point and landed the opportunity.

And while success isn't guaranteed,
the experience alone is invaluable.

This past weekend I turned 34 and went on a boys trip to the south (s/o my dogs Sweet Lu and Sloo) and a constant theme was the idea around taking action.

Doing the deed.

Being in the arena, as Theodore Roosevelt once famously stated:

(Quote shortened for brevity, full quote here)

In my experience, stepping into the arena and embracing this “nervous excitement” has led to massive breakthroughs in my life.

The feeling of being stretched in healthy ways.

Living in the 4% discomfort.

And let me tell you - this opportunity was exactly what I needed.

New environment.
New people.
New logistics.
New flows.

It forced me to step out of my comfort zones and expand as a teacher and leader.

Like a new and improved version of myself emerged through the process.

When I was driving to the studio for the first time, I remembered something my teacher taught us in our Yoga Teacher Training.

“Trust your training.”

I never thought I would need to lean on those words.
Until I did.

And leaned on them I did.

They reminded me to trust myself.
The reps I’ve put in.
The work I’ve done.
The training I’ve accomplished.

Embrace the nerves.
Channel the excitement.

Knowing these butterflies were simply energy that can be alchemized into performance.

Was I nervous?
Hell yeah.

And what a beautiful thing.

It means we care.
It means we’re being challenged in pursuit of a worthy cause.

And ironically enough, one of those five classes was on Halloween, so naturally I structured a class theme around fear.

Sharing the idea that, in my life experience, fear doesn't necessarily go away.

But we can become stronger in the face of fear by learniung to feel the feeling and take action anyway.

Like saying yes to the opportunity that makes you nervous,
and going for it.

Because that nervous excitement might just be your North Star as well.

Tip: Follow the butterflies.

Action: The next time you feel nervous about an opportunity, pause. And consciously reframe the feeling. Instead of interpreting it as fear, welcome the excitement that can be hiding in the feeling.

Why it matters: We can change our perspective at any moment. Shooters shoot. Take your shot. If you succeed, amazing. And if you fail, amazing. Either way, you’re most likely gaining a valuable experience, growing through the discomfort, and naturally building self-confidence. Because this is the result of doing the deed and being in the arena.

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✍️ Goal 1: Write 49 Newsletters
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Got this far? Hit reply and let me know a time you embraced fear, and the outcome that transpired.

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See you next week 😎

P.S. - 7 weeks left of 2026. How do you want to finish?

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