---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Being nervous isn't bad. It just means…"
description: "\"Being nervous isn't bad. It just means something important is happening.\" — Michael Jordan"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/740/michael-jordan-1054_anxiety_being-nervous-isn-t-bad-it-just-means-so_2365655.png"
---

#  Being nervous isn't bad. It just means something important…

![“Being nervous isn't bad. It just means something important is happening.” quote by Michael Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/740/michael-jordan-1054_anxiety_being-nervous-isn-t-bad-it-just-means-so_2365655.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/740/michael-jordan-1054_anxiety_being-nervous-isn-t-bad-it-just-means-so_2365655.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/740/michael-jordan-1054_anxiety_being-nervous-isn-t-bad-it-just-means-so_2365655.png)

> “Being nervous isn't bad. It just means something important is happening.”

[Michael Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jordan/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Nervousness signals significance; it’s a natural response to important moments that can be harnessed positively.

**In simple terms:** Nerves show something matters.

Key Takeaway

Channel anxiety into performance.

Themes

performance anxiety motivation

Mood

determined optimistic

Type

motivational practical

When to use this quote

- competitions
- public speaking
- job interviews
- creative projects

Key Concepts

Sports psychology biology mindset

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you transform nervous energy?
- What rituals calm you before big events?

A Different Perspective

Excessive nerves may impair ability if not managed.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Anxiety](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anxiety/) [Happening](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happening/) [Happenings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happenings/) [Important](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/important/) [Important Happening](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/important-happening-704751/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Mean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mean/) [Means Important](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/means-important-541993/) [Nervous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nervous/) [Nervous Isn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nervous-isn-4295122/)

## Related quotes

> [Being nervous isn't always the worst thing for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danica-patrick/being-nervous-isn-t-always-the-worst-thing-for-me/)

[Danica Patrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danica-patrick/)

> [At Sun, we have a special number you can call if there is something important happening.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/at-sun-we-have-a-special-number-you-can-call-if-there-is-something/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“...do you ever know a moment is important as it's happening, or is it only when you look back that you can see your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chelsea-sedoti/do-you-ever-know-a-moment-is-important-as-it-s-happening-or-is-it/)

[Chelsea Sedoti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chelsea-sedoti/)

> [Successful, for me, means being important for my team and, hopefully, for us to win a lot of trophies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-andre-ter-stegen/successful-for-me-means-being-important-for-my-team-and-hopefully-for/)

[Marc-Andre ter Stegen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-andre-ter-stegen/)

> [“responsible, we are not emotionally equipped to support these values in those we care about. Saying “I love you” is easy. “I love you”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/regina-cates/responsible-we-are-not-emotionally-equipped-to-support-these-values/)

[Regina Cates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/regina-cates/)

> [If someone waits for you it doesn't mean that they have nothing else to do, it just means that nothing else is more important…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/if-someone-waits-for-you-it-doesn-t-mean-that-they-have-nothing-else/)

[Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/)

> [Means are more important than ends in the civilized struggle for ideas. Our dreams may be the loveliest on earth, but if we wade…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yuri-orlov/means-are-more-important-than-ends-in-the-civilized-struggle-for/)

[Yuri Orlov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yuri-orlov/)

> [I'm done waiting. Done doing things the easy way and letting things happen as they will." Her heart caught. "What does that mean?" "It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-shalvis/i-m-done-waiting-done-doing-things-the-easy-way-and-letting-things/)

[Jill Shalvis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-shalvis/)

> [If I let you go, it doesn't mean that I don't love you anymore. It means you are so important to me that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/armee-taylo/if-i-let-you-go-it-doesn-t-mean-that-i-don-t-love-you-anymore-it/)

[Armee Taylo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/armee-taylo/)

> [If I ever make the first move to talk to you, it means you're someone important to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-i-ever-make-the-first-move-to-talk-to-you-it-means-you-re-someone/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Being judged by others means that your that important that they have the time to think about you and talk about you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mulimah4lyf/being-judged-by-others-means-that-your-that-important-that-they-have/)

[Mulimah4lyf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mulimah4lyf/)

> [“To be free from violence means everything to me. It is more important to me than sex, food, position, for this thing is corrupting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/to-be-free-from-violence-means-everything-to-me-it-is-more-important/)

[Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/)

> [If someone waiting for you, it does not mean that they have nothing else to do but its just means that nothing else is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/if-someone-waiting-for-you-it-does-not-mean-that-they-have-nothing/)

[Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/)

> [If someOne waitS for yOu It does'nt mean that... They have nothing else to do It jUst means that nOthing else is impOrtant than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suman-rai/if-someone-waits-for-you-it-does-nt-mean-that-they-have-nothing-else/)

[Suman Rai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suman-rai/)

> [The Pixar name means more than any other name. It's very important to us to keep that name at a high level.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-catmull/the-pixar-name-means-more-than-any-other-name-it-s-very-important-to/)

[Edwin Catmull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-catmull/)

## More by Michael Jordan

> [I want to be perceived as a guy who played his best in all facets, not just scoring. A guy who loved challenges.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jordan/i-want-to-be-perceived-as-a-guy-who-played-his-best-in-all-facets-not/)

[Michael Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jordan/)

> [I dont take pictures with Niggas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jordan/i-dont-take-pictures-with-niggas/)

[Michael Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jordan/)

> [The minute you get away from fundamentals – whether its proper technique, work ethic or mental preparation – the bottom can fall out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jordan/the-minute-you-get-away-from-fundamentals-whether-its-proper/)

[Michael Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jordan/)

> [Be true to the game, because the game will be true to you. If you try to shortcut the game, then the game will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jordan/be-true-to-the-game-because-the-game-will-be-true-to-you-if-you-try/)

[Michael Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jordan/)

> [Work ethics eliminates fear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jordan/work-ethics-eliminates-fear/)

[Michael Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jordan/)

> [I can accept failure everyone fails at something but what I can't accept is not trying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jordan/i-can-accept-failure-everyone-fails-at-something-but-what-i-can-t/)

[Michael Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jordan/)

> [Even though, physically, I can't do it, the mind says, 'Yeah, I can still do it,' and I still think I can do it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jordan/even-though-physically-i-can-t-do-it-the-mind-says-yeah-i-can-still/)

[Michael Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jordan/)

> [I wasn't really a work-conscious type of person. I was a player. I loved to play sports.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jordan/i-wasn-t-really-a-work-conscious-type-of-person-i-was-a-player-i/)

[Michael Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jordan/)

> [If you are confident you have done everything possible to prepare yourself, then there is nothing to fear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jordan/if-you-are-confident-you-have-done-everything-possible-to-prepare/)

[Michael Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jordan/)

> [Sometimes you need to get hit in the head to realize that you're in a fight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jordan/sometimes-you-need-to-get-hit-in-the-head-to-realize-that-you-re-in-a/)

[Michael Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jordan/)

> [You have competition every day because you set such high standards for yourself that you have to go out every day and live up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jordan/you-have-competition-every-day-because-you-set-such-high-standards/)

[Michael Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jordan/)

> [All I knew is that I NEVER wanted to be AVERAGE.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jordan/all-i-knew-is-that-i-never-wanted-to-be-average/)

[Michael Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jordan/)

> [“He fallado una y otra vez en mi vida, por eso he conseguido el éxito.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jordan/he-fallado-una-y-otra-vez-en-mi-vida-por-eso-he-conseguido-el-xito/)

[Michael Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jordan/)

> [I'd take 12 guys who had a strong passion for the game over 12 guys who don't respect the game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jordan/i-d-take-12-guys-who-had-a-strong-passion-for-the-game-over-12-guys/)

[Michael Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jordan/)

> [The NBA is the strongest professional sports league in the world. The league and the game is bigger than any one person, Michael Jordan…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jordan/the-nba-is-the-strongest-professional-sports-league-in-the-world-the/)

[Michael Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jordan/)

[Explore all 299 Michael Jordan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jordan/)

## 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": "Being nervous isn't bad. It just means something important is happening.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Michael Jordan"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jordan/being-nervous-isn-t-bad-it-just-means-something-important-is-happening/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Anxiety"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jordan/being-nervous-isn-t-bad-it-just-means-something-important-is-happening/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/740/michael-jordan-1054_anxiety_being-nervous-isn-t-bad-it-just-means-so_2365655.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/740/michael-jordan-1054_anxiety_being-nervous-isn-t-bad-it-just-means-so_2365655.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/740/michael-jordan-1054_anxiety_being-nervous-isn-t-bad-it-just-means-so_2365655.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Being nervous isn't bad. It just means something important is happening.” — Michael Jordan",
                "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": "Michael Jordan",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jordan/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Being nervous isn't bad. It just...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jordan/being-nervous-isn-t-bad-it-just-means-something-important-is-happening/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jordan/being-nervous-isn-t-bad-it-just-means-something-important-is-happening/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
