---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's good to have that anxiety or that…"
description: "\"It's good to have that anxiety or that urgency that's associated with not knowing.\" — Mike Tomlin"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/195/mike-tomlin-3886_anxiety_it-s-good-to-have-that-anxiety-or-that-u_618306.png"
---

#  It's good to have that anxiety or that urgency that's…

![“It's good to have that anxiety or that urgency that's associated with not knowing.” quote by Mike Tomlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/195/mike-tomlin-3886_anxiety_it-s-good-to-have-that-anxiety-or-that-u_618306.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/195/mike-tomlin-3886_anxiety_it-s-good-to-have-that-anxiety-or-that-u_618306.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/195/mike-tomlin-3886_anxiety_it-s-good-to-have-that-anxiety-or-that-u_618306.png)

> “It's good to have that anxiety or that urgency that's associated with not knowing.”

[Mike Tomlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-tomlin/)

## About This Quote

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

Anxiety can be a catalyst that drives focus and action when faced with uncertainty.

**In simple terms:** Anxiety fuels urgency.

Key Takeaway

Channel anxiety into focus.

Themes

anxiety focus uncertainty

Mood

tense focused

Type

motivational reflective

When to use this quote

- public speaking
- deadline projects
- new ventures
- learning new skills

Key Concepts

psychology performance pressure

Questions to Reflect On

- How can you turn nervous energy into productivity?
- When does urgency become counterproductive?

A Different Perspective

Too much anxiety may cause paralysis.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Anxiety](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anxiety/) [Anxiety Urgency](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anxiety-urgency-5008429/) [Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good/) [Good Anxiety](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-anxiety-1778991/) [Nervous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nervous/) [Not knowing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/not-knowing/) [Urgency](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/urgency/) [Urgency Associated](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/urgency-associated-5008430/)

## Related quotes

> [I am not into publicity. I'm not good at it. I get anxiety about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-galifianakis/i-am-not-into-publicity-i-m-not-good-at-it-i-get-anxiety-about-it/)

[Zach Galifianakis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-galifianakis/)

> [That's where the anxiety comes from with me; it's not a bad anxiety, but a good anxiety - like, I'm anxious to see: What…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alvin-kamara/that-s-where-the-anxiety-comes-from-with-me-it-s-not-a-bad-anxiety/)

[Alvin Kamara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alvin-kamara/)

> [With dance and theatre, I think people get very nervous about not knowing the right things. They feel like they've missed something, or that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-mcgregor/with-dance-and-theatre-i-think-people-get-very-nervous-about-not/)

[Wayne McGregor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-mcgregor/)

> [That's what actually caused me to run for office is, you know, my family story, the experience of growing up in a family where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/that-s-what-actually-caused-me-to-run-for-office-is-you-know-my/)

[Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/)

> [“Urgency makes the difference between practitioners, proclaimers and procrastinators.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richie-norton/urgency-makes-the-difference-between-practitioners-proclaimers-and/)

[Richie Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richie-norton/)

> [When we fight upstream against a rocky undercurrent, every foothold takes on a kind of urgency.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-golden/when-we-fight-upstream-against-a-rocky-undercurrent-every-foothold/)

[Arthur Golden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-golden/)

> [Develop a sense of urgency in your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-jackson-brown-jr/develop-a-sense-of-urgency-in-your-life/)

[H. Jackson Brown, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-jackson-brown-jr/)

> [Some say that I should settle down, go slower and not push so hard, so quickly for such transformational change. To them, I say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliot-spitzer/some-say-that-i-should-settle-down-go-slower-and-not-push-so-hard-so/)

[Eliot Spitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliot-spitzer/)

> [By the time I became chairman and there was more of a feeling of urgency, there was a willingness to accept more forceful measures…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-a-volcker/by-the-time-i-became-chairman-and-there-was-more-of-a-feeling-of/)

[Paul A. Volcker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-a-volcker/)

> [The SEC got more than 100 rules to write under Dodd-Frank, the lion's share of all the agencies. And we've moved, I think, with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-schapiro/the-sec-got-more-than-100-rules-to-write-under-dodd-frank-the-lion-s/)

[Mary Schapiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-schapiro/)

> [Without a sense of urgency, desire loses its value.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-rohn/without-a-sense-of-urgency-desire-loses-its-value/)

[Jim Rohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-rohn/)

> [So many people are on the front lines of this fossil fuel frenzy. It is infused with a sense of urgency.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/avi-lewis/so-many-people-are-on-the-front-lines-of-this-fossil-fuel-frenzy-it/)

[Avi Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/avi-lewis/)

> [There's a need for music that has urgency and emotional honesty. That's why people are reintroducing themselves to guitar music - that instrument has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mura-masa/there-s-a-need-for-music-that-has-urgency-and-emotional-honesty-that/)

[Mura Masa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mura-masa/)

> [There is something to be said though when you have 4 or 5 guys playing with no net, there is a sense of urgency,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-mendoza/there-is-something-to-be-said-though-when-you-have-4-or-5-guys/)

[Marco Mendoza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-mendoza/)

> [“After the funeral, my life changed. I felt as if time were suddenly precious, water going down an open drain, and I could not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/after-the-funeral-my-life-changed-i-felt-as-if-time-were-suddenly/)

[Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/)

## More by Mike Tomlin

> [I shaped my reputation in this business and this outlook in this business being singularly focused on the task at hand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-tomlin/i-shaped-my-reputation-in-this-business-and-this-outlook-in-this/)

[Mike Tomlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-tomlin/)

> [It's not only a moral obligation, but a social responsibility to leave the game and our vocation better than we found it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-tomlin/it-s-not-only-a-moral-obligation-but-a-social-responsibility-to-leave/)

[Mike Tomlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-tomlin/)

> [I know at least for me, man, I wanted to be the best dad I could be. I was trying to be perfect. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-tomlin/i-know-at-least-for-me-man-i-wanted-to-be-the-best-dad-i-could-be-i/)

[Mike Tomlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-tomlin/)

> [Football is a legitimate humble man's game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-tomlin/football-is-a-legitimate-humble-man-s-game/)

[Mike Tomlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-tomlin/)

> [In the mid-1990s, I was a young offensive coach. I received sound advice that I had a better chance ascending on the defensive side…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-tomlin/in-the-mid-1990s-i-was-a-young-offensive-coach-i-received-sound/)

[Mike Tomlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-tomlin/)

> [The good teams, the dominant teams, aren't necessarily dominant in stadiums, but they are dominant largely in moments, when they do what's required to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-tomlin/the-good-teams-the-dominant-teams-aren-t-necessarily-dominant-in/)

[Mike Tomlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-tomlin/)

> [I prefer old friends as opposed to new ones - people who have been significant in my growth and development along the way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-tomlin/i-prefer-old-friends-as-opposed-to-new-ones-people-who-have-been/)

[Mike Tomlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-tomlin/)

> [I don't focus on what's in my rearview.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-tomlin/i-don-t-focus-on-what-s-in-my-rearview/)

[Mike Tomlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-tomlin/)

> [I believe in hiring from within in most cases.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-tomlin/i-believe-in-hiring-from-within-in-most-cases/)

[Mike Tomlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-tomlin/)

> [I wanted to be a great player, and I wasn't. I never got over that. I take that same energy into coaching.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-tomlin/i-wanted-to-be-a-great-player-and-i-wasn-t-i-never-got-over-that-i/)

[Mike Tomlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-tomlin/)

> [It's not fun to relocate or get fired or things of that nature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-tomlin/it-s-not-fun-to-relocate-or-get-fired-or-things-of-that-nature/)

[Mike Tomlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-tomlin/)

> [People give you good information all the time that are helping you in in your journey. If you're a good listener, you retain those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-tomlin/people-give-you-good-information-all-the-time-that-are-helping-you-in/)

[Mike Tomlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-tomlin/)

> [I'm active in my community. I want to help as many people as I can help. I want to utilize this platform for good.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-tomlin/i-m-active-in-my-community-i-want-to-help-as-many-people-as-i-can/)

[Mike Tomlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-tomlin/)

> [You wear on your teammates when they routinely have to answer questions about things that aren't preparation or football-related.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-tomlin/you-wear-on-your-teammates-when-they-routinely-have-to-answer/)

[Mike Tomlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-tomlin/)

> [If changes produce better outcomes or seemingly produce better outcomes, or we feel like it puts us in position to produce better outcomes, then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-tomlin/if-changes-produce-better-outcomes-or-seemingly-produce-better/)

[Mike Tomlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-tomlin/)

[Explore all 120 Mike Tomlin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-tomlin/)

## 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 good to have that anxiety or that urgency that's associated with not knowing.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Mike Tomlin"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-tomlin/it-s-good-to-have-that-anxiety-or-that-urgency-that-s-associated-with/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Anxiety"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-tomlin/it-s-good-to-have-that-anxiety-or-that-urgency-that-s-associated-with/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/195/mike-tomlin-3886_anxiety_it-s-good-to-have-that-anxiety-or-that-u_618306.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/195/mike-tomlin-3886_anxiety_it-s-good-to-have-that-anxiety-or-that-u_618306.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/195/mike-tomlin-3886_anxiety_it-s-good-to-have-that-anxiety-or-that-u_618306.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“It's good to have that anxiety or that urgency that's associated with not knowing.” — Mike Tomlin",
                "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": "Mike Tomlin",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-tomlin/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "It's good to have that anxiety...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-tomlin/it-s-good-to-have-that-anxiety-or-that-urgency-that-s-associated-with/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-tomlin/it-s-good-to-have-that-anxiety-or-that-urgency-that-s-associated-with/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
