I remember long ago, I signed up for Toastmasters, as a means of self improvement.
Public speaking is one of our biggest fears, and I figured if I looked one of my fears in the face, and realized that it was much smaller than I’d imagined, I’d feel pretty good.
And I did.
A good, solid, feeling of accomplishment is one of the greatest feelings you can achieve.
Even if it’s something small, like giving a successful speech to a small group of ultra-supportive people, like the kind you’ll find at your neighborhood Toastmasters, is a REALLY good feeling.
On the other hand, I remember when me and a friend were out wandering around his neighborhood late at night, and we came across a set of houses being built. They’d had their frames built, but that was about it.
We were a couple of high school kids, wandering through this spooky “house frame neighborhood” when we saw this dark shape off in the distance. It was windy, and the shape was moving.
We didn’t know if it was some tarp that was just blowing in the wind, or some guard dog waiting for the opportunity to eat us.
We wanted to approach, but we chickened out. I don’t know who made the first move, but one moment we were standing there, trying to be brave, and the next we were running away like the zombie apocalypse had just broken out.
Of course, with fear coursing through our veins, we didn’t stop and consider that most guard dogs are trained to bark their brains out, not lay silently in wait for coming victims. That “thing” that we were so terrified of was likely some tarp covering up a stack of wood.
Either way, giving a speech in public, or approaching some strange shape, our fears can easily get the best of us.
And even though we KNOW that most of our fears are NOT REAL, they still keep us dead in our tracks.
Keeping us from creating the lives, relationships, and incomes that we want.
Luckily, once you throw off the shackles of false fear, you’ll realize that anything is possible.
ANYTHING.
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