![]() Many people liked my pitch, but apparently not enough. It would be a mixture of local speakers and internationally-renowned experts-quite the opportunity. Out of the 24 speakers that night, two would be chosen by the audience for the main event. Regardless of the results, I was happy I tried. My nervousness went away and it was replaced with pride. The talk was about impostor syndrome -feeling like a fraud-so the fact I got up there and spoke despite my feelings won over some members of the audience. One person even said my nervousness was endearing. After the show was over, lots of people came up to me and told me they loved my talk. If you watched the video, you’d see me visibly shaking. All of their perceived judgment of your failures comes pouring out, like acid rain from the sky. If you fumble, everyone witnesses it at the same time. Maybe it’s the fact that the spotlight is entirely on you. I don’t know what it is about public speaking that’s so terrifying. For the life of me, I couldn’t tell you what any of their speeches were about because I was so nervous and locked in my own head.Įventually, they called my name. ![]() I was in the middle of the lineup, so a few other speakers went ahead of me. ![]() I just sat there, running the talk through my head over and over again, my heart pounding out of my chest. I remember walking into the venue and I was so nervous I couldn’t even make small talk with the other speakers before the show started. The organizers invited me to “pitch night.” Twenty-four speakers were chosen to give short elevator pitches for their talk ideas. I didn’t think I’d get a response back but I did. I didn’t have much experience with public speaking, but by then I was heavily involved in self-improvement and understood the power of taking leaps of faith, so I submitted my pitch. A couple of members suggested I try out for a local TEDx event in our town. I always had a natural talent for speaking and I did pretty well when I gave talks to the group. I’d been in a Toastmaster’s club for about six months or so. To face your fears, you have to get comfortable with being uncomfortable This is how I felt when I faced my fear, achieved one of my most valued accomplishments, and experienced a level of euphoria I’d never felt before. We respond to things that aren’t physically dangerous as if they were. But our modern bodies still have primitive minds. This is your body’s way of preparing you to either run or fight when you’re facing a dangerous situation. Have you ever felt your heartbeat so fast and hard that you can literally hear it? It’s that level of fear where your body kicks into fight or flight mode and starts pumping blood uncontrollably. This is what’s on the other side of fear.Prepping for a talk on imposter syndrome, surrounded by world-renowned speakers (gulp).Putting yourself out there isn’t easy (but practice makes better).To face your fears, you have to get comfortable with being uncomfortable.
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