Why pressure scrambles your clear thinking

Dear friends,

Ever walk into a meeting or difficult conversation with an idea of what you want to say… and suddenly feel like your brain is frozen, and all those great words you had prepared abandoned you?

It’s not because you’re not smart.

It’s not because you’re unprepared.

It’s because pressure hijacks the body before it clouds the mind.

In high-stakes moments — presenting, interviewing, having a difficult conversation — your body doesn’t know the difference between a boardroom and a battlefield.

It responds the same way:

Heart races.

Muscles tighten.

Breath shortens.

And just like that… your access to clarity, creativity, and calm vanishes.

This is why brilliant people feel “off” in the moments that matter most.

But here’s what you need to know: There’s nothing wrong with you. Your system is working perfectly, but you just need to train it with a new signal. A signal that says, “I’m good,” even if the moment is tense.

Try This: 30-Second Grounding Reset

Before your next big moment:

1. Place both feet flat on the ground.

   
   

2. Inhale slowly for 4 counts — feel your belly rise.

   
   

3. Exhale slowly for 4 counts — drop your shoulders.

   
   

4. Silently say to yourself: “I’m alright. I’m here. I don’t need to perform or protect myself — just to be.”

   
   

Feel the shift? That’s the center of your being, which is more powerful than many of us realize. We have to remind ourselves of our power daily.

And that’s what we practice — not just speaking well, but speaking from center.

With you,

Ryan Justin Jackson