When you’re nervous, your brain usually tries to do one thing: talk faster and get it over with.
That’s exactly when your voice starts to feel shaky, your words blur together, and you finish a sentence thinking, Why did I say it like that?
Here’s the fix that doesn’t require confidence first.
Key takeaway: A pause + a slower next sentence makes you sound grounded even if you’re nervous.
Why pauses work (even if you feel awkward)
A pause does three quiet things at once:
• it gives your breath time to reset
• it helps your brain choose clearer words
• it signals calm to the person listening
Most people don’t hear your pause as “nervous.” They hear it as control.
Try this the next time you’re nervous:
🙌🏽 Pause (one beat)
🙌🏽 Exhale once (quietly)
🙌🏽 Say your next sentence slowly
That’s it.
No special breathing technique. No perfect wording. Just a reset.
What “grounded” actually sounds like
Grounded doesn’t mean serious. It means clear.
It sounds like:
➡️ shorter sentences
➡️ a calm start
➡️ one idea at a time
➡️ a little space between thoughts
Pauses are the space that makes your words land.
Starter lines that make pausing feel natural
If you want a pause that doesn’t feel like silence, use one of these:
“Let me think for a second.”
“Good question.”
“Here’s what I mean.”
“Let me say that clearly.”
“The main point is…”
You’re not filling silence, you’re giving yourself a moment to speak with intention.
Real-life examples (so you can picture it)
If you’re in a meeting:
“Good question.” (pause)
“My main point is we need a simpler plan.”
If you’re in an interview:
“Let me think for a second.” (pause) “I’d say my strength is staying calm under pressure.”
In a class:
“Here’s what I mean.” (pause) “The main idea is that the result changes when we adjust the input.”
In a tough conversation:
“I hear you.” (pause) “I want to respond carefully.”
Small Practice Moment
Do this right now:
Say: “Good question.”
Pause for one beat
Say slowly: “Here’s my short answer.”
Repeat 5 times.
Yes, it feels simple. That’s why it works.
Reflection question
When you get nervous, do you usually speed up… or go quiet?
A pause isn’t empty space. It’s where your confidence shows up.
WriteNow 