What have you done to step outside of your comfort zone recently? It is far too easy for us to get too comfortable, even lazy. We tend to think I can pay my bills, I like my work, my family is perfectly acceptable, I have a year’s worth of Fruit Loops in the cupboard, and all is good. Then we sit back on our laurels and relax. Relaxing is good. I’m all for relaxing, but when you get too relaxed you stop growing.
Part of living is learning, stretching, and reaching just beyond what you thought possible. That’s why I decided to join Toastmasters International. For those of you who don’t know, Toastmasters is a public speaking group. I’ve been thinking about joining for years, but could never really get my nerve up.
You probably don’t know this, but I’m painfully shy. Even trying to have a conversation with more than four people makes me an anxious, sweaty mess. My brain goes all mushy and I suddenly have no opinions about anything. Normally, I’m spouting off about my opinions to the people I live with all the time.
This morning I had to give my first speech in Toastmasters. It was impromptu, meaning I didn’t know the topic beforehand. I didn’t even know I was going to give a speech.
Let’s just say it went badly. I couldn’t think of anything to say. The speech was supposed to last 2 minutes and only took me 40 seconds. It was 40 seconds that felt like 4 hours of stammering and sweating in front of a group of strangers. Fortunately, I didn’t pass out … or collapse into a sobbing heap of pitifullness (apparently this isn’t a word, but I don’t care). When I was finished, I returned to my seat feeling nauseous and humiliated.
When you try something new you can’t expect the first time to go exactly as planned. Yes, in my mind I’m a killer public speaker, but in reality that will take time and tons of practice. Meanwhile, working at doing something that scares me makes me feel good in an anxious, stomach-turning sort of way … good anxious stomach-turningness (also not a word). No week is really complete unless you’ve felt you might throw up at least once, right?
Maybe I’m a glutton for punishment, but I’ll keep going back. After all I already paid my membership fees and I believe in getting my money’s worth. Also I want to get over my fear of public speaking once and for all. I need to be ready for my presentation at the International UFO Festival next year;)
How have you challenged yourself recently? Is there something that scares you that you know will improve your life if you could just get a handle on it? Start trying to conquer your fears and see how your life changes. You’ll never be fearless, no sane person is, but you’ll learn to feel the fear and do it anyway. That’s something that a lot of successful people have mastered.
