You can feel nervous and still notice the room. Fear doesn’t have to take the whole screen.

Nerves want all of your attention and are good at getting it, which is why a frightening room feels like a tunnel. But fear and awareness can run at the same time. You can have a hammering chest and still clock who looks friendly, where the door is and what the person in front of you actually asked. The nerves do not have to go first.

Before something that scares you this week, give yourself one small observation job. Count the windows, find one face that looks kind, notice the temperature of the room. It will not cure the nerves, and it will keep you in the room with them.