June 3, 2025 • 15 mins
Super grateful to my conversation partner and dear friend, Micah Caldwell. She’ll be joining me on a future episode, and her story is one you won’t want to miss. @micahonmic
Most of us have it backwards. We wait for confidence to arrive before taking action, but what if that's precisely why we stay stuck? In this intimate and powerful episode, I reveal my personal turning point that came from a simple question from my acting coach - and how it launched what I call a "Courage Quest" that completely transformed my life.
After decades of limiting beliefs and chronic health challenges that seemed to confirm my fears, I discovered the neurological key to unlocking confidence: deliberately training your brain to recognize possibilities instead of dangers. I share the exact system that helped me rewire negative thought patterns, and how the momentum from one small act of courage snowballed into experiences I never thought possible - from handling giant snakes to motorcycle riding and whitewater rafting.
The most profound revelation? Confidence doesn't come first - action does. Through my daily practice of "The 3 C's to Confidence" (Clarity journaling, Creative genius guided audios, Courage challenges), I've built a framework anyone can use to stop overthinking and start showing up. I explain why creating a "Scared list" and scheduling just one fear-facing activity can break the cycle of waiting to feel ready. Whether you're a creative professional facing performance anxiety or someone who's played small for too long, this episode offers the practical shortcut to confidence you've been searching for. Ready to stop waiting and start living? The journey begins with a single courageous step.
New episodes every week — packed with honest conversations, mindset tools, and real-life shortcuts to help you silence your inner critic, build true confidence, and take bold action.
📌 Subscribe + share if you're ready to stop overthinking and finally move forward.
💛 For freebies and updates, Join The Confidence Shortcut Community
✨ Grab your free Confidence Kickstart Guide.
🧠 Click to learn more about the Dynamic Neural Retraining System (DNRS) and how it helps rewire your brain for healing.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Niki Sterner (00:01):
Welcome to the Confidence Shortcut, the podcast
for ambitious creatives andentrepreneurs who are ready to
stop overthinking, take boldaction and finally step into the
life they've been dreamingabout.
I'm your host, nikki Sterner,mom, actor, comedian and
producer.
After years of playing smalland waiting to feel ready, I
went on a courage quest andfound a shortcut to confidence.
(00:21):
Each week, I'll bring you realstories, simple steps and
conversations with experts.
In mindset courage andconfidence, plus heart-to-hearts
with fellow creatives who areturning their dreams into
reality.
It's time to get unstuck andstart showing up.
Micah Caldwell (00:42):
Let's dive in.
Okay, so the conversation youhad with your acting coach was
the catalyst for the mindsetshift that you knew you needed
to make, and so, betweendefining what it is your why and
the things that you did andachieved through retraining your
brain, where has that led you?
Where are you now in yourjourney?
Niki Sterner (01:03):
Okay, yeah, great.
So once I realized like I had areally quick shift when I
started doing the DNRS, like itwas almost instant, like that's
how powerful the brain is.
What you feed it is what youperceive out in the world.
So once I started feeding itpositive things that I wanted to
see and feel like joy andhappiness, it was like, oh my
gosh, I can actually feel that.
(01:23):
And then, as soon as I startedto feel the shift, I was like,
ooh, I want to know more.
So then I started to findpodcasts to listen to and I
trained my social media to feedme videos that were about
motivation and neuroplasticityand what the brain is doing and
how you can change your life.
And I just dove in.
I read books, I really studiedhow I could fix my life and that
(01:48):
was a huge awakening for me, arebirth, if you will.
A year later I found WendyBraun, who does performance
audio collections for actors andVO artists and comedians, and
so when I found her, I reallyopened my mind up to the
possibilities because I feltlike, oh, I have these guided
(02:09):
meditations that can train me,because you know you get nervous
like the night before if youbook a job.
You're like oh my gosh, can Iactually do this?
And your brain goes into likefreak out mode.
And so having these guidedaudios from her were just like
you can listen to this beforeyou go into your job and you can
do it right before you performand you can do it after so that
(02:31):
you don't nitpick yourself.
And it was super valuable.
And when I had that, I had theconfidence to open up my mind to
the possibilities of all thesedifferent things.
And when I did that, I said yesto hosting trivia at Mellow
Mushroom Pizza in Buckhead,because I was nervous to do that
at the start.
I was like I've never done thisbefore, but I'm going to say
(02:51):
yes, and it worked out.
And then this other opportunitycame into the Laugh Lab group,
which we're a part of becausewe're both stand-up comedians.
We've taken class togetherbecause we're cool like that,
like that, so cool, so cool, socool.
But yeah, so there was anopportunity for a TV show and so
I signed up for that and Ididn't get back to her soon
enough.
So then she was like, oh, but Ihave this other opportunity.
(03:13):
That is similar to survivor,and if you get two other family
members and you create a team.
And so I signed up for thatwith my mom and my uncle and we
interviewed for it a year ago onMemorial Day in 2024.
And that's why I'm dropping thepodcast on Memorial Day,
because it's such a huge day forme, because that is the day
(03:35):
that I said yes and I was like,oh my gosh, I think I'm going to
get this, I think we're goingto be on TV.
So I need to start trainingmyself for the outdoors, because
I had not been an outdoorsyperson, even though I'm from
Montana, you'd think like Iwould have all these skills.
I was afraid.
I was like afraid of a lot ofthings growing up, and so I went
(03:55):
on what I called my couragequest and I started training for
the show.
And so I asked my sister can Ido tent camping with you guys?
And so I did that.
And then I went to a friend'shouse from high school who has
snakes and reptiles and stuff,and so I went and held three
giant snakes and it was crazy,but I cannot tell you how
(04:17):
excited I was after holding them.
It was like kind of freaky inthe moment, but the rush of
adrenaline and the momentum thatI gained from actually doing it
pushed me into other things.
Like I got my motorcyclelicense, I rode a horse, we went
snorkeling and I wentwhitewater rafting, which is
(04:39):
like super scary.
And we were there and theyasked who wants to jump into the
50 degree water and I was likeI do?
I felt my heart go, oh my gosh,I could never do that.
And then I beat my brain to it.
I was like I'm going to do itand so I jumped in and I hate
the cold, like I hate cold water.
And then they pulled us back upbut I was like, oh my gosh, we
just did it.
Like that's crazy, no-transcriptconfidence to do things.
(05:30):
But for me, and I think for somany people, that's just not how
it works.
And realizing that and liketraining your mind to know that
you can actually do things thatare hard before you think you
can, is actually the goldennugget in all of this.
I created the ConfidenceKickstart morning routine
because I know what it's like tohave big dreams and still feel
(05:52):
stuck behind self-doubt, fear orthe pressure to get it right.
As an actor, comedian andaward-winning filmmaker, I've
been on over 50 stages, butconfidence didn't come first.
Action and habits did.
This free guide gives you theexact 15-minute routine I use
every morning, with journalprompts, a guided audio
meditation and a simplestep-by-step process built on
(06:14):
the three pillars of theconfidence shortcut mindset,
path and action.
These aren't just feel-goodideas.
They're habits that work, thatbuild confidence, that move you
forward.
If you're ready to stopoverthinking and start showing
up the link is in the caption Gograb it and start your day with
clarity, courage and realmomentum.
Micah Caldwell (06:35):
That's amazing.
So you used a very specificterm.
You called it courage quest.
Where did that come from andwhat does that mean for a person
to go on a courage quest?
Niki Sterner (06:49):
Okay, I love that question, thank you.
So the courage quest I wasGoogling and asking chat, gpt,
here's exactly what I'm doing,what would be some options, and
I just kind of picked words thatI liked and felt and I was like
, oh, courage quest, cause I amgoing on this quest, I don't
know how long it'll take me andI need courage to do these
things.
And so that's what happened.
I started sharing my couragequest with my Instagram channel
(07:12):
on July 4th, because that was myindependence day and I felt
like it was my independence frommy fears, like I was shedding
my fears and gaining myindependence and my confidence,
and so I started sharing myvoice on socials at that time,
which was very scary for me, andthis was before I started
really doing stand-up comedy.
(07:34):
So this was like, oh my gosh,I'm sharing.
Like it felt so vulnerable tobe on there, but I got such a
good reception from everybodyand I felt like there was this
closeness to people that wereactually hearing it and
following the journey, and Ithink everybody wants that
closeness and to feel connectedto a group of people that are on
(07:56):
the same journey.
It's like having that communityis just there's nothing like it
.
Yeah.
Micah Caldwell (08:02):
That's amazing.
The reception was so good andthat sounds like something that
you want to now share morebroadly.
And so tell me, is that why youdecided to do the podcast, and
what are your hopes for it interms of connecting and
community and what the audiencecan get out of it?
Niki Sterner (08:26):
I started the podcast is because I don't want
people to wait 25 years, like Idid, to start taking action, and
so I want to give people theinformation that I've figured
out and that other experts andother creatives like yourself
have found along the way to helpthem get unstuck, because I
think you can stay stuck foryour whole life, and it's sad so
many people do feel stuckforever.
They never quite get to thatcreative genius place where they
(08:50):
love what they're doing, and Ijust want to give people simple
little ways, little tips, littletools that they can use today
to take action, even if it's onesmall thing, like for me.
I want people to create ascared list.
I want them to write downeverything that they're afraid
(09:10):
of.
Okay.
And then I want them to pick onething, just one, and schedule
it in the calendar, because ifit's in the calendar, it's going
to happen, and I don't wantpeople to do things necessarily
by themselves.
I think it's super valuable tohave an expert or a mentor or
someone who knows what they'redoing with you.
If it's a creative venture, ifit's a courageous thing like
(09:32):
whitewater rafting, obviouslyyou want to have a guide.
If you're holding a snake, youdon't want to just pick one up
in the wild.
You want to have somebody whoknows what they're doing.
Right, you don't want to gethurt.
Micah Caldwell (09:40):
That sounds like a good idea.
Niki Sterner (09:41):
Yes, you want to train yourself to do that every
day.
One of the ways that I do that,micah, is I have this thing
called the three C's to success,and it happened along the
journey in the last year, andthat was you write for 10
minutes as soon as you wake up,to find clarity on your day.
And just whatever needs to comeout comes out.
It could be comedy, or youcould just write about what
(10:03):
happened or what's going tohappen today, or you could write
positive affirmations, how youwant to feel today.
Just whatever comes out.
And then I wanted to dosomething courageous right away.
So in the shower I told you Idon't like cold, right.
Micah Caldwell (10:19):
So in the shower .
Niki Sterner (10:21):
I turn on the cold water and I step into it and
it's just awful, but I makenoises.
I'm like it's crazy.
But the cold water, it tells meevery day that I can do hard
things.
I don't want to do that, but Idid it and I feel good now
knowing that I can do it.
It wakes me up.
I'm like, okay, let's do it.
What are we doing today?
(10:41):
Then I also train my brain inthe shower.
I have a guided meditation thathelps me with my courage,
because I am telling myself thatI'm worthy of all these things
and I'm clarifying what Iactually want.
Like I'm worthy of sharing myvoice with the world.
I'm worthy of being on stage.
I'm worthy of reaching out topeople and asking them to be on
the podcast.
(11:01):
Things that may feel a littlebit scary and they're just
outside my comfort zone rightnow, but things that I want.
Almost three years ago, I hadjust graduated from a two-year
Meisner conservatory program,ready to get on stage, on screen
and make my dreams come true.
But as I started working ondifferent movie sets, I noticed
(11:21):
myself getting sick fromchemicals that were off-gassing
all around me.
The breast implants and moldexposure that caused my brain
injury were long gone, but fiveyears later my brain was still
stuck in limbic systemimpairment.
I was getting sicker quickerwith each new exposure.
I felt helpless, like I'dwasted all this time, energy and
money pursuing a career I mightnever be able to do.
(11:43):
One day.
My acting teacher asked if I'dprayed for a miracle, so I did.
That's when the DNRS programshowed up, and it changed
everything.
Dnrs helped me rewire my brain,shifting from fight or flight
and constant danger alerts tocreative flow and joy.
If you feel stuck in anxiety,overwhelm or chronic symptoms,
this might be your breakthrough.
(12:04):
Click the link in the captionto learn more.
This could be your miracle too.
Another way that you can do itis in the gym or in your
workouts.
I did not realize untilrecently that you can lift
heavier weights and hold yourmuscles.
I didn't use to hold thembecause it feels uncomfortable,
(12:25):
but the most growth happens whenyou do that.
I'm seeing changes in my muscles.
You know in my forties thingsthat I didn't have in my
twenties.
I'm like what?
Why is that?
And it's just because I'mpushing myself outside of that
comfort zone, like it doesn'thurt but it doesn't feel good.
It's like I know that mymuscles are working in overdrive
and I'm like, oh my gosh, isthis okay?
(12:47):
I am a lot stronger now becauseof it.
So it's just it's crazy how thecourage that you have built in
the courage quest just sprinklesall throughout your life in all
different ways.
Same with finding the rightfoods to eat For me.
I didn't know that I should beeating more protein.
For the longest time I was likeit's protein, I should focus on
(13:09):
fruits and veggies.
But having a focus on proteinintake really has helped me to
shape my body in the way that Iwant to do it, and I didn't
realize that until I goteducated about it and started
taking action on it.
I do love failure.
Now and that's another bigthing that I've learned is to
fail forward, whereas you and Igrew up with like failure being
(13:30):
bad right.
Micah Caldwell (13:32):
I did anyway.
I grew up.
Niki Sterner (13:34):
Failure was horrible and if I failed at
something, that's not for me.
But now it's like oh, failureis good.
How did I fail today?
What did I do that flopped evenin clown class.
I did it.
I got up there.
It was terrible.
Cool, I'm getting betterbecause of it.
Right?
Micah Caldwell (13:50):
Or stand up comedy going up at an open mic
If you flop you did it, whichyou think it's going to be like
the most horrible thing in theworld, but it's part of the
growth to fail, and you're right.
I grew up nothing less thanperfection was pretty much the
standard for everything that Idid, and for the longest time.
For most of my life, I wouldnever stick with things that I
(14:12):
wasn't good at, and I alsobelieved that I couldn't like
something unless I was good atit.
Niki Sterner (14:21):
Oh really.
Micah Caldwell (14:24):
Which is kind of a weird way to look at things.
Which is kind of a weird way tolook at things.
But I think you can be anamateur photographer and love to
take photos and know thatyou're not that great at it, but
I wouldn't even allow myselfthat kind of creative freedom
because, well, I'm not very goodat this.
So therefore I suck, like thisisn't good, I don't want to do
this, you know, and I hatephotography.
(14:44):
That was my attitude towardsfailure.
Niki Sterner (14:47):
Basically, it was Thanks so much for listening to
the Confidence Shortcut.
I hope today's episode wokesomething up in you, reminding
you that your dream matters andyou can start now.
If this sparked something,share it with a friend who needs
it too.
And don't forget to follow meon Instagram at Nikki Sterner
and join our Facebook communityat the Confidence Shortcut.
Ready to take the next step?
(15:08):
Check out my free guide, theConfidence Kickstart, linked in
the show notes.
Keep showing up, keep takingaction and remember the shortcut
to confidence is courage.
Welcome to the Confidence Shortcut, the podcast
for ambitious creatives andentrepreneurs who are ready to
stop overthinking, take boldaction and finally step into the
life they've been dreamingabout.
I'm your host, nikki Sterner,mom, actor, comedian and
producer.
After years of playing smalland waiting to feel ready, I
went on a courage quest andfound a shortcut to confidence.
(00:21):
Each week, I'll bring you realstories, simple steps and
conversations with experts.
In mindset courage andconfidence, plus heart-to-hearts
with fellow creatives who areturning their dreams into
reality.
It's time to get unstuck andstart showing up.
Micah Caldwell (00:42):
Let's dive in.
Okay, so the conversation youhad with your acting coach was
the catalyst for the mindsetshift that you knew you needed
to make, and so, betweendefining what it is your why and
the things that you did andachieved through retraining your
brain, where has that led you?
Where are you now in yourjourney?
Niki Sterner (01:03):
Okay, yeah, great.
So once I realized like I had areally quick shift when I
started doing the DNRS, like itwas almost instant, like that's
how powerful the brain is.
What you feed it is what youperceive out in the world.
So once I started feeding itpositive things that I wanted to
see and feel like joy andhappiness, it was like, oh my
gosh, I can actually feel that.
(01:23):
And then, as soon as I startedto feel the shift, I was like,
ooh, I want to know more.
So then I started to findpodcasts to listen to and I
trained my social media to feedme videos that were about
motivation and neuroplasticityand what the brain is doing and
how you can change your life.
And I just dove in.
I read books, I really studiedhow I could fix my life and that
(01:48):
was a huge awakening for me, arebirth, if you will.
A year later I found WendyBraun, who does performance
audio collections for actors andVO artists and comedians, and
so when I found her, I reallyopened my mind up to the
possibilities because I feltlike, oh, I have these guided
(02:09):
meditations that can train me,because you know you get nervous
like the night before if youbook a job.
You're like oh my gosh, can Iactually do this?
And your brain goes into likefreak out mode.
And so having these guidedaudios from her were just like
you can listen to this beforeyou go into your job and you can
do it right before you performand you can do it after so that
(02:31):
you don't nitpick yourself.
And it was super valuable.
And when I had that, I had theconfidence to open up my mind to
the possibilities of all thesedifferent things.
And when I did that, I said yesto hosting trivia at Mellow
Mushroom Pizza in Buckhead,because I was nervous to do that
at the start.
I was like I've never done thisbefore, but I'm going to say
(02:51):
yes, and it worked out.
And then this other opportunitycame into the Laugh Lab group,
which we're a part of becausewe're both stand-up comedians.
We've taken class togetherbecause we're cool like that,
like that, so cool, so cool, socool.
But yeah, so there was anopportunity for a TV show and so
I signed up for that and Ididn't get back to her soon
enough.
So then she was like, oh, but Ihave this other opportunity.
(03:13):
That is similar to survivor,and if you get two other family
members and you create a team.
And so I signed up for thatwith my mom and my uncle and we
interviewed for it a year ago onMemorial Day in 2024.
And that's why I'm dropping thepodcast on Memorial Day,
because it's such a huge day forme, because that is the day
(03:35):
that I said yes and I was like,oh my gosh, I think I'm going to
get this, I think we're goingto be on TV.
So I need to start trainingmyself for the outdoors, because
I had not been an outdoorsyperson, even though I'm from
Montana, you'd think like Iwould have all these skills.
I was afraid.
I was like afraid of a lot ofthings growing up, and so I went
(03:55):
on what I called my couragequest and I started training for
the show.
And so I asked my sister can Ido tent camping with you guys?
And so I did that.
And then I went to a friend'shouse from high school who has
snakes and reptiles and stuff,and so I went and held three
giant snakes and it was crazy,but I cannot tell you how
(04:17):
excited I was after holding them.
It was like kind of freaky inthe moment, but the rush of
adrenaline and the momentum thatI gained from actually doing it
pushed me into other things.
Like I got my motorcyclelicense, I rode a horse, we went
snorkeling and I wentwhitewater rafting, which is
(04:39):
like super scary.
And we were there and theyasked who wants to jump into the
50 degree water and I was likeI do?
I felt my heart go, oh my gosh,I could never do that.
And then I beat my brain to it.
I was like I'm going to do itand so I jumped in and I hate
the cold, like I hate cold water.
And then they pulled us back upbut I was like, oh my gosh, we
just did it.
Like that's crazy, no-transcriptconfidence to do things.
(05:30):
But for me, and I think for somany people, that's just not how
it works.
And realizing that and liketraining your mind to know that
you can actually do things thatare hard before you think you
can, is actually the goldennugget in all of this.
I created the ConfidenceKickstart morning routine
because I know what it's like tohave big dreams and still feel
(05:52):
stuck behind self-doubt, fear orthe pressure to get it right.
As an actor, comedian andaward-winning filmmaker, I've
been on over 50 stages, butconfidence didn't come first.
Action and habits did.
This free guide gives you theexact 15-minute routine I use
every morning, with journalprompts, a guided audio
meditation and a simplestep-by-step process built on
(06:14):
the three pillars of theconfidence shortcut mindset,
path and action.
These aren't just feel-goodideas.
They're habits that work, thatbuild confidence, that move you
forward.
If you're ready to stopoverthinking and start showing
up the link is in the caption Gograb it and start your day with
clarity, courage and realmomentum.
Micah Caldwell (06:35):
That's amazing.
So you used a very specificterm.
You called it courage quest.
Where did that come from andwhat does that mean for a person
to go on a courage quest?
Niki Sterner (06:49):
Okay, I love that question, thank you.
So the courage quest I wasGoogling and asking chat, gpt,
here's exactly what I'm doing,what would be some options, and
I just kind of picked words thatI liked and felt and I was like
, oh, courage quest, cause I amgoing on this quest, I don't
know how long it'll take me andI need courage to do these
things.
And so that's what happened.
I started sharing my couragequest with my Instagram channel
(07:12):
on July 4th, because that was myindependence day and I felt
like it was my independence frommy fears, like I was shedding
my fears and gaining myindependence and my confidence,
and so I started sharing myvoice on socials at that time,
which was very scary for me, andthis was before I started
really doing stand-up comedy.
(07:34):
So this was like, oh my gosh,I'm sharing.
Like it felt so vulnerable tobe on there, but I got such a
good reception from everybodyand I felt like there was this
closeness to people that wereactually hearing it and
following the journey, and Ithink everybody wants that
closeness and to feel connectedto a group of people that are on
(07:56):
the same journey.
It's like having that communityis just there's nothing like it
.
Yeah.
Micah Caldwell (08:02):
That's amazing.
The reception was so good andthat sounds like something that
you want to now share morebroadly.
And so tell me, is that why youdecided to do the podcast, and
what are your hopes for it interms of connecting and
community and what the audiencecan get out of it?
Niki Sterner (08:26):
I started the podcast is because I don't want
people to wait 25 years, like Idid, to start taking action, and
so I want to give people theinformation that I've figured
out and that other experts andother creatives like yourself
have found along the way to helpthem get unstuck, because I
think you can stay stuck foryour whole life, and it's sad so
many people do feel stuckforever.
They never quite get to thatcreative genius place where they
(08:50):
love what they're doing, and Ijust want to give people simple
little ways, little tips, littletools that they can use today
to take action, even if it's onesmall thing, like for me.
I want people to create ascared list.
I want them to write downeverything that they're afraid
(09:10):
of.
Okay.
And then I want them to pick onething, just one, and schedule
it in the calendar, because ifit's in the calendar, it's going
to happen, and I don't wantpeople to do things necessarily
by themselves.
I think it's super valuable tohave an expert or a mentor or
someone who knows what they'redoing with you.
If it's a creative venture, ifit's a courageous thing like
(09:32):
whitewater rafting, obviouslyyou want to have a guide.
If you're holding a snake, youdon't want to just pick one up
in the wild.
You want to have somebody whoknows what they're doing.
Right, you don't want to gethurt.
Micah Caldwell (09:40):
That sounds like a good idea.
Niki Sterner (09:41):
Yes, you want to train yourself to do that every
day.
One of the ways that I do that,micah, is I have this thing
called the three C's to success,and it happened along the
journey in the last year, andthat was you write for 10
minutes as soon as you wake up,to find clarity on your day.
And just whatever needs to comeout comes out.
It could be comedy, or youcould just write about what
(10:03):
happened or what's going tohappen today, or you could write
positive affirmations, how youwant to feel today.
Just whatever comes out.
And then I wanted to dosomething courageous right away.
So in the shower I told you Idon't like cold, right.
Micah Caldwell (10:19):
So in the shower .
Niki Sterner (10:21):
I turn on the cold water and I step into it and
it's just awful, but I makenoises.
I'm like it's crazy.
But the cold water, it tells meevery day that I can do hard
things.
I don't want to do that, but Idid it and I feel good now
knowing that I can do it.
It wakes me up.
I'm like, okay, let's do it.
What are we doing today?
(10:41):
Then I also train my brain inthe shower.
I have a guided meditation thathelps me with my courage,
because I am telling myself thatI'm worthy of all these things
and I'm clarifying what Iactually want.
Like I'm worthy of sharing myvoice with the world.
I'm worthy of being on stage.
I'm worthy of reaching out topeople and asking them to be on
the podcast.
(11:01):
Things that may feel a littlebit scary and they're just
outside my comfort zone rightnow, but things that I want.
Almost three years ago, I hadjust graduated from a two-year
Meisner conservatory program,ready to get on stage, on screen
and make my dreams come true.
But as I started working ondifferent movie sets, I noticed
(11:21):
myself getting sick fromchemicals that were off-gassing
all around me.
The breast implants and moldexposure that caused my brain
injury were long gone, but fiveyears later my brain was still
stuck in limbic systemimpairment.
I was getting sicker quickerwith each new exposure.
I felt helpless, like I'dwasted all this time, energy and
money pursuing a career I mightnever be able to do.
(11:43):
One day.
My acting teacher asked if I'dprayed for a miracle, so I did.
That's when the DNRS programshowed up, and it changed
everything.
Dnrs helped me rewire my brain,shifting from fight or flight
and constant danger alerts tocreative flow and joy.
If you feel stuck in anxiety,overwhelm or chronic symptoms,
this might be your breakthrough.
(12:04):
Click the link in the captionto learn more.
This could be your miracle too.
Another way that you can do itis in the gym or in your
workouts.
I did not realize untilrecently that you can lift
heavier weights and hold yourmuscles.
I didn't use to hold thembecause it feels uncomfortable,
(12:25):
but the most growth happens whenyou do that.
I'm seeing changes in my muscles.
You know in my forties thingsthat I didn't have in my
twenties.
I'm like what?
Why is that?
And it's just because I'mpushing myself outside of that
comfort zone, like it doesn'thurt but it doesn't feel good.
It's like I know that mymuscles are working in overdrive
and I'm like, oh my gosh, isthis okay?
(12:47):
I am a lot stronger now becauseof it.
So it's just it's crazy how thecourage that you have built in
the courage quest just sprinklesall throughout your life in all
different ways.
Same with finding the rightfoods to eat For me.
I didn't know that I should beeating more protein.
For the longest time I was likeit's protein, I should focus on
(13:09):
fruits and veggies.
But having a focus on proteinintake really has helped me to
shape my body in the way that Iwant to do it, and I didn't
realize that until I goteducated about it and started
taking action on it.
I do love failure.
Now and that's another bigthing that I've learned is to
fail forward, whereas you and Igrew up with like failure being
(13:30):
bad right.
Micah Caldwell (13:32):
I did anyway.
I grew up.
Niki Sterner (13:34):
Failure was horrible and if I failed at
something, that's not for me.
But now it's like oh, failureis good.
How did I fail today?
What did I do that flopped evenin clown class.
I did it.
I got up there.
It was terrible.
Cool, I'm getting betterbecause of it.
Right?
Micah Caldwell (13:50):
Or stand up comedy going up at an open mic
If you flop you did it, whichyou think it's going to be like
the most horrible thing in theworld, but it's part of the
growth to fail, and you're right.
I grew up nothing less thanperfection was pretty much the
standard for everything that Idid, and for the longest time.
For most of my life, I wouldnever stick with things that I
(14:12):
wasn't good at, and I alsobelieved that I couldn't like
something unless I was good atit.
Niki Sterner (14:21):
Oh really.
Micah Caldwell (14:24):
Which is kind of a weird way to look at things.
Which is kind of a weird way tolook at things.
But I think you can be anamateur photographer and love to
take photos and know thatyou're not that great at it, but
I wouldn't even allow myselfthat kind of creative freedom
because, well, I'm not very goodat this.
So therefore I suck, like thisisn't good, I don't want to do
this, you know, and I hatephotography.
(14:44):
That was my attitude towardsfailure.
Niki Sterner (14:47):
Basically, it was Thanks so much for listening to
the Confidence Shortcut.
I hope today's episode wokesomething up in you, reminding
you that your dream matters andyou can start now.
If this sparked something,share it with a friend who needs
it too.
And don't forget to follow meon Instagram at Nikki Sterner
and join our Facebook communityat the Confidence Shortcut.
Ready to take the next step?
(15:08):
Check out my free guide, theConfidence Kickstart, linked in
the show notes.
Keep showing up, keep takingaction and remember the shortcut
to confidence is courage.
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