How to rewire your anxiety into authenticity | Jesse Eisenberg for Big Think+
In “How to Rewire Your Anxiety into Authenticity,” Jesse Eisenberg shares his personal journey with performance anxiety, often labeled as stage fright. Drawing from his rich experiences as an actor, writer, and director, he explores how anxiety, rather than being a hindrance, can be channeled into authenticity and focus.
Eisenberg emphasizes that anxiety can escalate with experience, countering the belief that familiarity breeds comfort. He recounts moments from his career, revealing how he grappled with catastrophizing thoughts, particularly before performances. By normalizing feelings of panic, he encourages viewers to redefine these emotions not as flaws but as signs of passion and commitment.
His insights extend beyond the stage; he underscores the universal nature of anxiety in various fields. Eisenberg provides actionable advice on reframing negative feelings as motivations, allowing individuals to embrace their vulnerabilities instead of denying them. By recognizing the shared struggles within their communities, people can find empowerment in their anxiety, enhancing their authenticity in both personal and professional settings.
By transforming anxious energy into a driving force, Eisenberg illustrates that embracing our imperfections can lead to greater self-understanding and connection with others.
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Author Video Description
“The way my mind works is just out of anxiety and catastrophization.”
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Anxiety doesn’t vanish with practice. In fact, in actor Jesse Eisenberg’s experience, it can grow even sharper even after repetition. Eisenberg’s stories from stage and film sets reveal what performance anxiety teaches us about how the brain works, and how we can rewire it to work better for us.
Rather than treating panic as a flaw, the actor argues it can be redirected into focus and authenticity.
0:00 Performance anxiety
0:32 Recognize catastrophic thinking
3:57 Normalize your panic
6:24 Reframe negative feelings as motivation
Read the video transcript ► https://bigthink.com/series/the-big-think-interview/jesse-eisenberg-anxiety/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=youtube_description
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About Jesse Eisenberg:
Jesse Eisenberg is an Academy Award nominated actor and an acclaimed playwright and author.
Eisenberg’s film credits include Roger Dodger, The Squid and the Whale, Adventureland, Zombieland, The Social Network, Now You See Me, The Double, Night Moves, The End of Tour, American Ultra, Louder Than Bombs, Batman v. Superman, Now You See Me 2, Café Society, Justice League, The Hummingbird Project, The Art of Self Defense, Zombieland: Double Tap, Resistance, Vivarium,Wild Indian, Manodrome, and Sasquatch Sunset which sees him play the urban legend Sasquatch.
On the small screen, Eisenberg was recently seen playing the titular character of ‘Toby Fleishman’ in the FX limited series Fleishman Is in Trouble based on Taffy Brodesser-Akner’s best-selling novel of the same name.
Eisenberg made his directorial debut with A24’s When You Finish Saving the World, which premiered at the 2022 Sundance Film Festival to glowing reviews and screened as a part of Critics Week at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival. The film is based on the Audible Original of the same name, both of which were written by Eisenberg.
Eisenberg’s second directorial effort, A Real Pain, recently had its world premiere at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival. The film, which Eisenberg stars alongside Kieran Culkin, tells the story of two estranged cousins who travel to Poland after their grandmother dies to see where she came from and end up joining a Holocaust tour, won Eisenberg the Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award for his screenplay The film was bought at the festival by Searchlight Pictures for a release later in the year.
Eisenberg has written four plays, including “The Spoils,” which had a box-office record-breaking run-on West End. He also wrote and starred alongside Vanessa Redgrave in his play “The Revisionist,” and “Asuncion.” His play, “Happy Talk” starring Susan Sarandon and Marin Ireland opened April 2019 at the Signature Theater in New York. Born in New York, Eisenberg is a frequent contributor to The New Yorker, the author of the collection, Bream Gives Me Hiccups from Grove Press and the Audible Original When You Finish Saving the World, which won “Best Original Work” at the 2021 Audie Awards.
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Video “How to rewire your anxiety into authenticity | Jesse Eisenberg for Big Think+” was uploaded on 10/08/2025 to Youtube Channel Big Think