Tracee Ellis Ross Reveals Powerful Lesson About Anxiety Mom Diana Ross Taught Her

Tracee Ellis Ross recently shared a practical lesson from her mother, Diana Ross, regarding the nature of anxiety and excitement. During an appearance on the Today show, Ross explained that her mother taught her these two feelings are physically identical. They share the same sensation in the body, and the only difference between them is the label people apply to the experience.

Ross has refined this perspective over time. While she maintains that the physical response is the same, she distinguishes between the two based on breath. She notes that excitement involves full, deep breathing, whereas fear often restricts the breath. By acknowledging this, she creates space to shift her internal state when she feels those familiar butterflies.

This mindset is central to how she handles the pressures of her career. As she currently performs on Broadway, she experiences nerves before each show. Instead of letting that feeling spiral, she leans into the work she has put into her preparation. She views her performance as a service to the story and the audience, which keeps the focus off her own internal stress.

Ross emphasizes that this approach does not mean anxiety disappears. It simply changes her relationship with it. By trusting her discipline and keeping her goal clear, she is able to move forward despite the inevitable nerves. Her approach shows that managing stress is often about how one interprets physical signals.