Public speaking terrifies me. I’m sure I’m not alone in this.
Although I’m getting better, I’m generally shaking about five minutes before and five minutes into a presentation. I feel hot and flushed and incredibly nervous.
Yet, every time someone approaches me about speaking at their event, or when I see an event that I’d like to speak at, I don’t hesitate to say yes or send in a workshop proposal.
When it’s something related to my career, if I feel like saying “No,” I usually say, “Yes.”
Maybe 10% of the time it bites me in the butt. But 90% of the time it gives me an opportunity to do something that I’ve never done before – and usually I find out I’m pretty good at it. I still get nervous before I speak somewhere, but then it passes and I have a great time.
It’s about conditioning yourself to say, “Why not?” instead of “Oh, I don’t think so.” I look at everything – and I do mean everything – as an opportunity to grow. To be better. To learn new things.
If you wait until you’re comfortable to do things, are you truly growing?
Love this, Tara. I feel this way about change.
Being a teacher, every school year brings about change, and some of those changes can be scary. But I don’t run from them. I make them my own. Like you, I see them as opportunities to grow. And I almost always end up happy.
“It’s about conditioning yourself to say, “Why not?” instead of “Oh, I don’t think so.” I look at everything – and I do mean everything – as an opportunity to grow. To be better. To learn new things.”
you know that you’re speaking to me personally with almost every post, right? i so needed to read this. short, sweet, and hits the nail right on the head!
Since I have a master’s in Communication Studies and taught public speaking (which I desire to do full time eventually), I’ve been thinking of ways to turn my expertise into a consulting business. Reading Make It Happen last night helped affirm that I’m onto something! I want to help ‘coach’ people into conquering their fear of public speaking.
I love public speaking but I totally freeze in small intimate settings (bizarre, I know). But you’re right, in order to grow you have to push yourself out of your comfort zone.
I’m journalist and can speak well if I’m prepped but those unexpected request have me rambling. Something to work on. I guess there’s some procrastination going on with me really investing the time I need into what I really truly want to do. I guess “my deepest fear is not that I am inadequate but that I am powerful beyond my imagination.” It is time.
I love your blog and need to get the book.
Yes, get the book!
I think your fear is so common. I know I have a fear of actually reaching my dreams. Like, little ol’ me? Really?
But when we really push ourselves, we usually end up surprising ourselves, and that leads to the confidence that allows us to say Yes the next time we’re scared.
I agree that the true test of our growth is whether are not we continuously shy away from challenges. If we’re ever going to be successful and get to the life we want, we have to start stepping outside of our comfort zone and trying new things. Sometimes, trying things that scare us is God’s way of opening up doors to future blessings.