Speaking in front of an audience ain’t easy for most of us!
Real life stories convey dreadful and embarrassing experiences:
- “… her voice started shaking, she felt panicky, her legs felt wobbly and she had to clutch the podium to struggle through.” ~Sharon
- “… his vision started to darken peripherally, his ears were ringing, and he was drenched in sweat.” ~Reza
- “… her mouth went completely dry and she could not produce a drop of saliva. Another time she froze in front of the senior management team. She started blushing and sweating profusely and then the opposite happened – all the blood drained from her face and she felt cold.” ~Catherine
As Toastmasters, we’ve given ourselves an incredible Opportunity to face our fears head-on.
Resistance is normal. Difficulty is a part of the process.
But … we’ve got what it takes! We’ve got genuine heart and fortitude. We’ll show up to our Club meetings feeling scared and inadequate. We’ll deliver our talks clumsily, awkwardly. We’ll keep putting ourselves out there, making steady progress forward. We’ll practice resilience despite our fear because this is the price of admission!
Can you make Facing Your Fear a 2024 New Year’s Resolution??
Bottom line, are you willing to be a fool and pay the price to become what you know you are capable of becoming? Are you willing to go through the challenges and the beat-down and enter your own arena and determine your own fate? The real possibility is there and the choice is ours. May we choose wisely. — Max Warren