“I did it – I felt the fear and did it anyway”
Today I stepped into my fear……literally, I spoke to a room full of recruits at the Victorian Police Academy. I opened with “I used to be really scared of the Police… and one of my biggest fears is public speaking”…
I have been so scared of speaking in front of large groups for as long as I can remember. I have avoided using my voice. I was seen as an Olympic Athlete, which enabled me to hide my voice. The fear of public speaking was unbearable. I remember when I would win races, I would be petrified of going on the podium, as I would be handed the microphone, and would have to talk. Instead of celebrating my victories I was so fearful, missing out on being in the moment.
Not anymore!!
Today I am celebrating finding my voice and stepping into my courage of facing the fear and doing it anyway. And the pleasure in doing so feels incredible. In sharing my Olympic journey and the tunnel vision life I lived, I was able to inspire the future Police Officers, and open their awareness surrounding the importance of finding balance in life.
In doing so I have developed self trust in my ability to handle whatever comes my way.
Did you know that at the core of all fear is the ‘fear that we cannot handle it?’
WHAT IF YOU KNEW YOU COULD HANDLE IT?
– What would you do differently?
– What actions would you take?
– What dreams would you chase that you have given up on?
If we sit with the fear and understand why it is there we can learn to let it go. My fear of public speaking was linked to a defining moment in my life at high school where I was laughed at by the whole class for pronouncing a word incorrectly. I felt so ashamed and humiliated. To never have to feel that way again I avoided speaking, I became the shy, quiet one. It was such a horrible feeling, I didn’t want to ever feel it again. We often run from things so we don’t have to face the uncomfortable, painful feelings. I lost all confidence in my ability to speak.
Only now, stepping into this fear, I have been able to gain the courage and reclaim my confidence.
Where in life can you feel the fear and do it anyway?
Find out how I can help you uncover the fears that are holding you back in life.
There is a great book from Susan Jeffers called ‘Feel the fear and do it anyway’.
