Sometimes the butterflies are not a warning to step back - they are an invitation to step forward. Reframing stress as excitement and recognising when discomfort is really growth in motion.
Why excitement often disguises itself as stress
What if the feeling you call stress is actually a sign you care deeply?
Before an important presentation, a client conversation, a board discussion, or a moment that really matters, many of us feel the same things: a racing heart, butterflies, tension, and nervous energy.
We question whether we are ready, prepared enough, or capable of delivering what is expected.
For years, I interpreted those feelings as stress.
But over time, I started to notice something interesting.
Those feelings rarely showed up when I was doing things I didn't care about.
They appeared before important client meetings, speaking engagements, and opportunities that mattered deeply to me.
The more I reflected on it, the more I realised that perhaps I wasn't experiencing stress at all.
Perhaps I was experiencing excitement.
The Science Behind the Feeling
This idea isn't just a personal observation.
Research conducted by Alison Wood Brooks at Harvard Business School explored what happens when people experience anxiety before high-pressure situations. Her studies found that individuals who reframed their anxiety as excitement often performed better than those who tried to calm themselves down. Simply changing their internal dialogue from "I am anxious" to "I am excited" helped them adopt a more opportunity-focused mindset and improve performance.
What's fascinating is that anxiety and excitement are remarkably similar physiologically.
Both can cause:
• A racing heart
• Increased adrenaline
• Heightened alertness
• Butterflies in the stomach
• Sweaty palms
The body doesn't always distinguish between fear and anticipation.
Often, the difference lies in the story we tell ourselves.
What If You’ve Been Labelling It Wrong?
Many of us have been conditioned to view discomfort as a warning sign.
If we feel nervous, we assume something is wrong.
If we feel uncertain, we assume we are not ready.
If our heart races before an important moment, we think we should somehow eliminate the feeling.
But what if those sensations aren't trying to stop you?
What if they're preparing you?
What if your body is simply recognising that what you're about to do matters?
The Difference Between Draining Stress and Meaningful Stress
Not all stress is created equal, and that distinction matters for leaders.
There is the kind of stress that comes from being stuck in the wrong environment, feeling misaligned with your values, or carrying burdens that deplete your energy.
But there is another kind.
The kind that appears when you care.
The kind that shows up because you want to do well.
Because you want your message to land.
Because you want to create impact.
Because the outcome matters.
I've come to realise that some of the most meaningful moments in our lives are accompanied by discomfort.
Starting a business. Leading a team. Sharing an idea. Stepping onto a stage. Navigating change. Saying yes to a bigger opportunity.
The butterflies are often there because what you're doing sits at the edge of your growth.
A Different Question to Ask Yourself
When you feel those familiar sensations, instead of asking:
"Why am I so stressed?"
Try asking:
"What am I excited about?"
The answer may surprise you.
You might discover that underneath the nervousness is passion.
Underneath the uncertainty is purpose.
Underneath the fear is something you care deeply about.
And that changes everything.
A Simple Reframe to Try
The next time you feel nervous before something important, pause before naming the feeling. Try asking yourself three questions:
- What am I excited about?
- What does this moment tell me I care about?
- What would change if I stepped forward rather than pulled back?
A small shift in language can create a meaningful shift in mindset. It does not remove the challenge, but it can help us meet the moment with more clarity, courage, and possibility.
Are You in the Right Place for You?
One of the most powerful lessons I've learned is that being in the right place doesn't always feel comfortable.
Sometimes it feels challenging.
Sometimes it feels vulnerable.
Sometimes it feels like standing just outside your comfort zone wondering whether you're ready.
But often, when we are doing work that aligns with who we are and what matters to us, our bodies respond.
Not because we're in danger.
But because we're engaged.
Because we're invested.
Because we're stretching towards something important.
The goal isn't to eliminate every butterfly.
The goal is to understand what they're trying to tell us.
Final Thought
The next time you're about to walk into an important meeting, deliver a presentation, pitch an idea, or have a conversation that matters, pay attention to the feeling in your body.
Before you label it as stress, pause.
Ask yourself:
"Am I stressed... or am I excited?"
You may discover that what feels like anxiety is actually a sign that you're exactly where you need to be.
Because sometimes excitement disguises itself as stress.
And sometimes the butterflies are not warning you to step back.
They're encouraging you to step forward.
A ReEvolveCo Reflection
At ReEvolveCo, we believe growth often begins at the edge of comfort. Whether an organisation is navigating change, a leader is stepping into greater visibility, or a team is learning to work in new ways, progress often starts with a moment that feels uncomfortable before it feels clear.
Sometimes the feeling is not a signal to stop. Sometimes it is an invitation to evolve.