Translate this Story
Embracing My Fears
Marlene’s Mid-Life Diary
What would it be like if I could turn my feelings of fear into feelings of excitement?
Public speaking is a major fear for many people and I am certainly one of them. Rather than hide this fear I decided to confront it by attending a meeting of Toastmasters.
I’ve made the decision that I will step out of the shadows and step forward to speak; knowing that I will be terrified of the process is not going to stop me. I will get the help I need as long as I keep taking the steps I need to take to move through and past my fears. Makes sense but I already feel butterflies at the thought of it.
Tags attached to this post:
Fear, Speaking, Standing UP Click them to find stories with similar themes.
3 Comments
IF… you fail to practice,
you practice to fail.
~anon
The road to success is uphill,
The road to failure is downhill
The first step for either is the same.
~anon
Success requires four things:
1. Practice
2. Practice
3. Practice
4. Practice
~Portia Douglas
Debate/Drama teacher
Ogden High School
Ogden, Utah
Just a few words of encouragment df
I love the fear/excitement connection/perspective. I once read an article about a guy who leads white water rafting tours. On one tour, after riding the first rapids, a woman told him she found it frightening.
He asked her, “What happens in your body when you feel that fear? Can you describe it for me?”
She replied, “Well, my hands get sweaty and shake, my heart pounds fast and hard, and I feel my breath grow quicker.”
He said, “That’s very interesting. I have those same feelings when I raft the rapids, but I call it excitement.”
Good for you, facing your fear and choosing to label it as excitement.
Your fear is just a sign that you want to do well. That makes sense. All actors have butterflies because they want to do well. The trick is to rehearse and then you’ll be fine…no, great!