Arousal Reappraisal: "I’m Excited, Not Anxious"
Reinterpret physiological arousal as excitement rather than anxiety — they share the same physiology.
Key takeaways
- What it is: Reinterpret physiological arousal as excitement rather than anxiety — they share the same physiology.
- Why it works: Anxiety and excitement are physiologically nearly identical: both involve elevated heart rate, heightened alertness, and elevated cortisol. The difference is appraisal — anxiety tags the arousal as threatening and future-bad; excitement tags it as opportunity and future-good. Because the arousal itself is already present and cannot be quickly reduced, reappraisal works by changing the label rather than the physiology — which is metabolically far less costly than trying to calm down completely. The reappraisal moves the person from a threat orientation (shrinking) to an opportunity orientation (approaching), which is associated with better performance.
- Evidence: Backed by randomized trials / meta-analyses.
- Avoid: Using reappraisal as spiritual bypass — saying "I’m excited" while internally still treating the event as a catastrophe. The reappraisal needs to genuinely redirect attention toward the opportunity, not just be a verbal label.
Why it works
Anxiety and excitement are physiologically nearly identical: both involve elevated heart rate, heightened alertness, and elevated cortisol. The difference is appraisal — anxiety tags the arousal as threatening and future-bad; excitement tags it as opportunity and future-good. Because the arousal itself is already present and cannot be quickly reduced, reappraisal works by changing the label rather than the physiology — which is metabolically far less costly than trying to calm down completely. The reappraisal moves the person from a threat orientation (shrinking) to an opportunity orientation (approaching), which is associated with better performance.
How to do it
- 1When you notice pre-performance anxiety, acknowledge the arousal without trying to suppress it.
- 2Say to yourself (or aloud): "I am excited" — simple, direct, present-tense.
- 3Redirect attention toward the opportunity the performance represents rather than the threat it poses.
- 4Do not tell yourself "calm down" — this fights the arousal state and rarely works. Use excitement reappraisal instead.
- 5Practice the reappraisal before low-stakes performances to build the habit before high-stakes events.
What the evidence says
RCT / meta-analysisHarvard researcher Alison Wood Brooks found that saying "I am excited" before anxiety-inducing tasks improved performance on singing, math, and public speaking tasks compared to "I am calm." The mechanism — redirecting approach vs. avoidance motivation — has additional theoretical support.
Honest caveat: Brooks’ findings have been replicated but are also contested in some replication attempts; effects are real but may be smaller and more context-dependent than originally reported.
- — Brooks (2014), "Get excited: reappraising pre-performance anxiety as excitement", Journal of Experimental Psychology: General — directly tested this technique
Common mistake
Using reappraisal as spiritual bypass — saying "I’m excited" while internally still treating the event as a catastrophe. The reappraisal needs to genuinely redirect attention toward the opportunity, not just be a verbal label.
IX Coach teaches arousal reappraisal in early sessions and prompts you to use it before high-stakes events you’ve shared in your agenda, building the habit before it is needed under pressure.
Practice this with IX Coach →