Time Travel is Real – Part 1

Mind Time Travel: Turning Nerves into Confidence

Well, good morning everybody.

I’m sitting in a car park outside a building I’ve never been to before, about to walk into a networking meeting with 50 or 60 people—most of whom I’ve never met. There’s one familiar face, the person who invited me, and maybe five or six others I might recognize. But the vast majority? Brand new connections waiting to happen.

And here’s the interesting part: before I even step through the door, there’s a pang of emotion. A mix of anxiety and anticipation.

After 30 years of coaching salespeople, business leaders, singers, and actors, I know I’m not alone. Many people experience that same sense of dread walking into a room full of strangers. But here’s the question: “Where does that come from?”

It can’t come from this meeting—I haven’t even gone in yet!

The truth is, those feelings are leftovers. They’re not from the present moment. They’re from past experiences that we’ve dragged along for the ride.

The Trap of Mind Time Travel

Psychologists call this “mind time travel”. We revisit old experiences—moments where we felt embarrassed, where a presentation fell flat, or where a deal didn’t close—and then we contaminate the present with those old emotions.

It’s like carrying baggage you don’t need. Each past event piles on until it becomes a belief: “Networking is scary. Meeting new people never goes well.”

But here’s the twist: if we can time travel backward, we can also time travel forward.

Traveling Forward Instead of Backward

Instead of replaying the failures we can’t change, why not project ourselves into the future we “can” influence?

Picture walking into the meeting looking sharp—not just physically, but carrying yourself in a way that draws people in. Imagine being confident: not arrogant, just quietly assured in who you are, what you offer, and the questions you ask.

See yourself making good contacts, asking thoughtful questions, and walking away with several new meetings already scheduled—conversations that could lead to real business.

And then pause. Ask yourself: “What does that feel like?”

Confidence. Success. Momentum.

Pull the Future into the Present

Here’s the key: bring those future emotions into the present moment. Instead of being powered by anxiety from the past, fuel yourself with the confidence of a future you’re creating.

That’s what I’m choosing today. As I sit in this car before the meeting, I’m not nervous—I’m excited. I’m ready to make meaningful connections, to learn, to share, and to walk away with new opportunities.

And you can too. Practice this little “mind time travel” before your next meeting or presentation. It might feel counterintuitive at first, but you’ll notice how your energy shifts.

Instead of dread, you’ll feel anticipation. Instead of fear, excitement.

So go for it. Step into your next room with confidence.

Because you’re not dragging the past with you—you’re carrying the future.

GO FOR IT!