Have you ever been simultaneously excited, and scared, about taking on something new? Can you be glad of the new opportunity, while wishing you hadn't taken it?

I know of no one who has started a new job that he or she really wanted, without a lot of apprehension. Try to stay calm, if you can. (Not easy, I know). Once you have gotten the first Sunday behind you, I bet that you will feel better.

I can still remember the first hour before I walked into the first class I had ever taught. I sat in the teacher’s lounge, feeling the sweat roll down the sides of my body and felt myself hyperventilating. Afterwards, I thought “Wow. Good for me.”

I had similar experiences before the two other important jobs I took…no tricks. You just let the hours tick by.

You have the experience and the skills and will soon have the confidence, I am sure. it is stage fright. No one is immune. Your creative juices will kick in and override the heebie-jeebies.

Yes I have, many times when starting new jobs and now, every time I tackle a new freelance assignment. That combo of feelings is perfectly natural, and as any stage performer will tell you, “fright” is a good thing. Gets the juices going and helps keep you on your toes.

Congratulations on the appointment. They wouldn’t have picked you if they didn’t have complete faith in you. You’ll do great.

The feelings you describe are known as approach-avoidance conflict, related to the larger fight-or-flight response. Very natural. And I must say, congratulations, @yankeetooter.!! What @Pachy said is key: “They wouldn’t have picked you if they didn’t have complete faith in you.” Keep this in mind and you won’t be so frightened. You’ll know that there are other people who believe you can do the job. This will be good for you. In order to grow, you need to get out of your comfort zone and tackle new challenges.

It’s kind of what I feel about my new job. I’m working at a hotel and although I’m excited to finally be doing something, But the owner can be pretty condescending to me and everyone else working there is extremely uhh…conservative I guess?...and it makes me question my place there. But I still like the job although it’s so much different than the previous hotel job I had (totally different crowd). I’m still looking for other jobs but this one is fine for now. Hopefully things will settle in place eventually.
If you can find a church seeking a pianist, please let me know.

I was a busser a hardworking one at that, and was told in front of all servers faces by my GM that I would become a server.

My feelings match exactly what your OP asks.

I went through the same thing a few months ago when I quit my stable but boring job to do my dream job that could have all fallen through within a week of starting. I just kept reminding myself that I would regret it if I didn’t at least try. So far, so good.

It could be just excitement you are feeling? Years ago (and today actually) I went through a high anxiety state that lasted years and caused havoc in my life. I found every expectancy made me jittery and scared. I had to discern the difference between high anxiety (racing heart etc., ) and excitement (racing heart etc., !!).

I wish you all the best and try and have fun with it :)

Absolutely. Until I gain a little experience and confidence in a new endeavor, I frequently ask myself why the hell I did this to myself. Pushing beyond my comfort zone is scary, exhilarating, and rewarding all at once; it makes me feel alive.

Have I felt that way? Gosh, yes! When I got to bootcamp, when I faced our training challenges and written tests, when I left boot camp to face my actual Navy job, and again when I left my Navy life to be a civilian again! I also get that same feeling every time I’m in a really rip – roaring storm! Unlike a lot of people, I love that feeling. When I left bootcamp, I apparently had the feeling less than most of the kids. Over the years I thought about the difference, I came to what I am sure explains why I had so much less apprehension about facing my new job.
I grew up on a farm. I had lots of room to move about, almost no supervison whatsoever. It was a hard work environment. I got shoved aside when work was to be done because I was a runt…....well…....and a girl. I wouldn’t have it though. I challenged myself in all sorts of ways: tightrope walking across the barn beams, digging deep wide holes, running as hard as I could, as long as I could toward the back acre of the farm. This meant keeping a fair pace on the return, or I would miss dinner. By the time I joined the military, I had a better understanding of what my mind and body could face than most of the recruits. My only real challenge was learning this entirely new environment. I kicked arse. People couldn’t believe their eyes, this runty little white girl hitting the workload like it was a hobby. I was the only one to say stuff like, “Quittin’ time, already?”
Here’s my point; the human being is capable of a great deal. You haven’t fully tested yourself, I gather. Face this new challenge as an opportunity. As you’ve already heard, someone has faith in you to meet this challenge. That speaks well of you. Meet the challenge as an opportunity. It’s an opportunity to prove to yourself and others some of the talents you possess. You have a lot more in you than you know.
Congratulations! Good luck! Have fun!