12/17/2021
I’ve always loved public speaking but it hasn’t always come easy.🎤
In elementary school, I got selected to perform my speech in front of the whole school & I remember being terrified at the thought of it at first. But as the performance day approached, I rehearsed countlessly until I knew I had memorized it entirely & I knew I was ready. Coming onto the stage was thrilling. My nerves rose, my palms were getting sweatier by the second; but I also felt this immense excitement & I knew that it would go well. It did. And that’s when I realized that despite how hard it was to step on that stage, it was incredible rewarding to tackle my fears.
My nerves around public speaking continued years after but I pushed myself to do it anyway. I did group presentations, emceed events, facilitated mentorship workshops, competed in mock trials, & most recently, co-hosted an incredible conference in Ottawa. Every one of these experiences helped me to be more confident in my voice & strengthened my public speaking abilities. It’s all about growth.
I’ve come to realize that most things in life are hard (studying, maintaining one’s mental/physical health, balancing a work & social life, dealing with a pandemic – I can really go on & on), & that fear is a powerful emotion. It often masquerades as a cloak of protection, keeping us from doing things that may cause us harm. But sometimes, the real damage comes from the inaction that fear enables. We avoid at all costs those things that make us uncomfortable, but there is no growth in the status quo. Sooner or later, that caution & those fears that prevent you from getting hurt, stagnate you.
Until you take responsibility for your own growth journey, everything will remain the same. To make positive change, you need to muster the courage to acknowledge & tackle your hidden fears. By doing so, you’ll get out of your own way, gain traction & go after your goals. It is hardest to admit what you most want in the world, & so easy to settle for something short of that “risky” path. Lose the fear & guilt about going after what’s missing, & start to explore.
Photo credit - Taman Jama