--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's okay to feel nervous before a…" description: "\"It's okay to feel nervous before a competition because it means you care about doing well.\" — Gretchen Bleiler" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e90/gretchen-bleiler-4516_anxiety_it-s-okay-to-feel-nervous-before-a-compe_2596759.jpg" --- # It's okay to feel nervous before a competition because it… ![“It's okay to feel nervous before a competition because it means you care about doing well.” quote by Gretchen Bleiler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e90/gretchen-bleiler-4516_anxiety_it-s-okay-to-feel-nervous-before-a-compe_2596759.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e90/gretchen-bleiler-4516_anxiety_it-s-okay-to-feel-nervous-before-a-compe_2596759.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e90/gretchen-bleiler-4516_anxiety_it-s-okay-to-feel-nervous-before-a-compe_2596759.jpg) > “It's okay to feel nervous before a competition because it means you care about doing well.” [Gretchen Bleiler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-bleiler/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Nervousness before competition signals care and commitment, turning anxiety into motivation. **In simple terms:** Being nervous shows you care about doing well. Key Takeaway Channel nervous energy into preparation and focus. Themes competition anxiety motivation care Mood determined hopeful Type motivational inspirational When to use this quote - sports events - exams - job interviews Key Concepts sports psychology performance mindset Questions to Reflect On - How can you reframe nerves as excitement? - What rituals help you stay calm? A Different Perspective Excessive nerves can impair performance if not managed. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Anxiety](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anxiety/) [Care](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/care/) [Competition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/competition/) [Feel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feel/) [Feel Nervous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feel-nervous/) [Nervous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nervous/) [Nervous Competition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nervous-competition-1593121/) [Okay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/okay/) [Okay Feel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/okay-feel-1007502/) ## Related quotes > [I don't want to compete. I want to skate for the joy. I get so nervous in competition. I get always sick. I had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katarina-witt/i-don-t-want-to-compete-i-want-to-skate-for-the-joy-i-get-so-nervous/) [Katarina Witt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katarina-witt/) > [I get nervous for any competition. I also get really competitive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morena-baccarin/i-get-nervous-for-any-competition-i-also-get-really-competitive/) [Morena Baccarin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morena-baccarin/) > [I may be writing well, I may be writing poorly, but I enjoy the act of writing and sometimes when it turns out okay,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-lipton/i-may-be-writing-well-i-may-be-writing-poorly-but-i-enjoy-the-act-of/) [James Lipton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-lipton/) > [I always feel pressure. If you don't feel nervous, that means you don't care about how you play. I care about how I perform.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tiger-woods/i-always-feel-pressure-if-you-don-t-feel-nervous-that-means-you-don-t/) [Tiger Woods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tiger-woods/) > [ I feel nervous because I revere \[Zadie Smith\] so much. I don't want to be stupid. If I say something stupid, just interrupt me. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/i-feel-nervous-because-i-revere-zadie-smith-so-much-i-don-t-want-to/) [George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/) > [There are some men who are frightened by strong women and some men who are nurtured by them and feel nervous, with weak clinging…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-fellowes/there-are-some-men-who-are-frightened-by-strong-women-and-some-men/) [Julian Fellowes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-fellowes/) > [As long as I have enough money for makeup artists, everything is okay. I feel young and very free. But one day, my face…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-bullock/as-long-as-i-have-enough-money-for-makeup-artists-everything-is-okay/) [Sandra Bullock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-bullock/) > [“First, it’s okay to be sad. It’s okay to feel things. Remember that.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-mcguire/first-it-s-okay-to-be-sad-it-s-okay-to-feel-things-remember-that/) [Jamie McGuire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-mcguire/) > [It's okay to feel weak sometimes. It's okay to be afraid. The important thing is that we face our fears. That's...that's what makes us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yuki/it-s-okay-to-feel-weak-sometimes-it-s-okay-to-be-afraid-the-important/) [Yuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yuki/) > [It's okay to doubt yourself, it's okay to feel down; just never give up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-patzer/it-s-okay-to-doubt-yourself-it-s-okay-to-feel-down-just-never-give-up/) [Aaron Patzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-patzer/) > [In control. Out of control. Sometimes they're the same thing. The trick is knowing that, realizing it's okay to feel out of control once…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-hopkins/in-control-out-of-control-sometimes-they-re-the-same-thing-the-trick/) [Ellen Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-hopkins/) > [“It's okay to cry, it just shows that you are human. It's okay to feel happy, it just shows that you are human. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bianca-lizbeth-garcia/it-s-okay-to-cry-it-just-shows-that-you-are-human-it-s-okay-to-feel/) [Bianca Lizbeth Garcia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bianca-lizbeth-garcia/) > [I think it's important for people to know that it's okay to feel like you're not better as long as you keep trying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kat-dennings/i-think-it-s-important-for-people-to-know-that-it-s-okay-to-feel-like/) [Kat Dennings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kat-dennings/) > [“What we learn through sharing our memories and our sadness's and our little victories with each other is that it’s okay to feel sad.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jojo-moyes/what-we-learn-through-sharing-our-memories-and-our-sadness-s-and-our/) [jojo moyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jojo-moyes/) > [Its okay to feel weak/afraid. The important thing is that we face our fears. Thats what makes us strong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/its-okay-to-feel-weak-afraid-the-important-thing-is-that-we-face-our/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Gretchen Bleiler > [Lots of times, people go to the mountains and feel like it's not cool to wear a beanie and goggles and neck gaiter. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-bleiler/lots-of-times-people-go-to-the-mountains-and-feel-like-it-s-not-cool/) [Gretchen Bleiler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-bleiler/) > [I've been a vegetarian, I've been a Paleo, and now I believe in the everything-in-moderation diet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-bleiler/i-ve-been-a-vegetarian-i-ve-been-a-paleo-and-now-i-believe-in-the/) [Gretchen Bleiler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-bleiler/) > [There will always be another email to get through; something to clean up, file, and organize; more errands to do. Which is why balance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-bleiler/there-will-always-be-another-email-to-get-through-something-to-clean/) [Gretchen Bleiler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-bleiler/) > [When you choose to take the road less traveled, it can sometimes be a bumpy ride along the way, but if you're doing it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-bleiler/when-you-choose-to-take-the-road-less-traveled-it-can-sometimes-be-a/) [Gretchen Bleiler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-bleiler/) > [I love dried mangoes, walnuts, and goji berries. The mix provides iron, antioxidants, and omega-3s and really kicks up my energy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-bleiler/i-love-dried-mangoes-walnuts-and-goji-berries-the-mix-provides-iron/) [Gretchen Bleiler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-bleiler/) > [Being at the top means never being satisfied with what you're comfortable with - comfortable means you've stopped pushing, and you're either going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-bleiler/being-at-the-top-means-never-being-satisfied-with-what-you-re/) [Gretchen Bleiler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-bleiler/) > [As a professional snowboarder, my livelihood obviously depends on snow. And for me, traveling around the world, chasing the snow, I see the effects…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-bleiler/as-a-professional-snowboarder-my-livelihood-obviously-depends-on-snow/) [Gretchen Bleiler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-bleiler/) > [As long you are doing what you love and making decisions from the heart, you will be successful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-bleiler/as-long-you-are-doing-what-you-love-and-making-decisions-from-the/) [Gretchen Bleiler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-bleiler/) > [I don't have too strict a diet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-bleiler/i-don-t-have-too-strict-a-diet/) [Gretchen Bleiler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-bleiler/) > [The Olympics, you're in front of the world, and yeah you're competing, but you want to look good. You want to have a great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-bleiler/the-olympics-you-re-in-front-of-the-world-and-yeah-you-re-competing/) [Gretchen Bleiler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-bleiler/) > [Every year, I push myself to do something different - and push the boundaries a little bit more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-bleiler/every-year-i-push-myself-to-do-something-different-and-push-the/) [Gretchen Bleiler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-bleiler/) > [Imagine if the whole point of this experience on planet Earth was to just open ourselves up more fully to who we really are,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-bleiler/imagine-if-the-whole-point-of-this-experience-on-planet-earth-was-to/) [Gretchen Bleiler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-bleiler/) > [Eliminate the energy vampires in your house. Connect all of your appliances to power strips and turn them off they're when not in use.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-bleiler/eliminate-the-energy-vampires-in-your-house-connect-all-of-your/) [Gretchen Bleiler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-bleiler/) > [I'm a Midwestern girl; I was born in Toledo, Ohio, and grew up in Dayton until I was ten years old. Then my whole…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-bleiler/i-m-a-midwestern-girl-i-was-born-in-toledo-ohio-and-grew-up-in-dayton/) [Gretchen Bleiler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-bleiler/) > [When I started snowboarding, I was looking for success to bring me identity. I still love to win, but at the same time, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-bleiler/when-i-started-snowboarding-i-was-looking-for-success-to-bring-me/) [Gretchen Bleiler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-bleiler/) [Explore all 110 Gretchen Bleiler quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-bleiler/) ## More Anxiety quotes > [“Anything that you find yourself worrying about regularly may find you suddenly wanting unrealistic changes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nagisa-tatsumi/anything-that-you-find-yourself-worrying-about-regularly-may-find-you/) [Nagisa Tatsumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nagisa-tatsumi/) > [Bein Crazy is the least of my worries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/bein-crazy-is-the-least-of-my-worries/) [Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/) > [The answer to deep anxiety is the deep adoration of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-voskamp/the-answer-to-deep-anxiety-is-the-deep-adoration-of-god/) [Ann Voskamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-voskamp/) > [“Fear of seeing a police car pull into the drive. Fear of falling asleep at night. Fear of not falling asleep. Fear of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-carver/fear-of-seeing-a-police-car-pull-into-the-drive-fear-of-falling/) [Raymond Carver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-carver/) > [I get nervous when I don't get nervous. If I'm nervous I know I'm going to have a good show.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beyonce-knowles/i-get-nervous-when-i-don-t-get-nervous-if-i-m-nervous-i-know-i-m/) [Beyonce Knowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beyonce-knowles/) > [“Every invention comes through anxiousness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rakesh-wadhwani/every-invention-comes-through-anxiousness/) [Rakesh Wadhwani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rakesh-wadhwani/) > [“Do Not Be Anxious 25 e “Therefore I tell you,  f do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/do-not-be-anxious-25-e-therefore-i-tell-you-f-do-not-be-anxious-about/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Nothing happens on its own, you have to make things happen. If you really want to come out of your stressful situation than you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/subodh-gupta/nothing-happens-on-its-own-you-have-to-make-things-happen-if-you/) [Subodh Gupta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/subodh-gupta/) > [“I guess if we're talking about my anxiety, the even truthier truth is it started way before that.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-winfrey/i-guess-if-we-re-talking-about-my-anxiety-the-even-truthier-truth-is/) [Kerry Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-winfrey/) > [I was a very good student. Procrastinating gives me anxiety, and getting a B really ticked me off. Sure, I didn't always want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josie-loren/i-was-a-very-good-student-procrastinating-gives-me-anxiety-and/) [Josie Loren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josie-loren/) > [“The suspense: the fearful, acute suspense: of standing idly by while the life of one we dearly love, is trembling in the balance; the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/the-suspense-the-fearful-acute-suspense-of-standing-idly-by-while-the/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [The party in Alobar’s head, which agitation and anxiety were throwing, now was crashed by a notion: existence can be rearranged.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/the-party-in-alobar-s-head-which-agitation-and-anxiety-were-throwing/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [As you know, I have been very open about my struggle with social anxiety.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/summer-walker/as-you-know-i-have-been-very-open-about-my-struggle-with-social/) [Summer Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/summer-walker/) > [Anxiety is not to be managed it is a sin that needs to be repented of](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-driscoll/anxiety-is-not-to-be-managed-it-is-a-sin-that-needs-to-be-repented-of/) [Mark Driscoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-driscoll/) > [“I’ve always seen this in you, ever since you were a little girl — this hunger to love other people into their highest selves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-elisabeth/i-ve-always-seen-this-in-you-ever-since-you-were-a-little-girl-this/) [Jennifer Elisabeth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-elisabeth/) [Browse all 4,944 Anxiety quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anxiety/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It's okay to feel nervous before a competition because it means you care about doing well.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Gretchen Bleiler" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-bleiler/it-s-okay-to-feel-nervous-before-a-competition-because-it-means-you/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Anxiety" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-bleiler/it-s-okay-to-feel-nervous-before-a-competition-because-it-means-you/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e90/gretchen-bleiler-4516_anxiety_it-s-okay-to-feel-nervous-before-a-compe_2596759.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e90/gretchen-bleiler-4516_anxiety_it-s-okay-to-feel-nervous-before-a-compe_2596759.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e90/gretchen-bleiler-4516_anxiety_it-s-okay-to-feel-nervous-before-a-compe_2596759.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It's okay to feel nervous before a competition because it means you care about doing well.” — Gretchen Bleiler", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Gretchen Bleiler", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-bleiler/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It's okay to feel nervous before...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-bleiler/it-s-okay-to-feel-nervous-before-a-competition-because-it-means-you/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-bleiler/it-s-okay-to-feel-nervous-before-a-competition-because-it-means-you/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```