What Activity Are You Still Working Up The Courage To Try?

Photographed by José A. Warletta

Can you relate to any of these popular activities that many want to do but are too afraid?

• Sing in front of others
• Ask someone out on a date
• Get a tattoo
• Ride a roller coaster
• Change jobs
• Have a baby
• Finish a college degree
• Ask for help

I can relate to a few. But the activity that most terrifies me is public speaking.

Anything to do with being in front of people is hard for me. But I want to overcome that fear. Lately I have been thinking about joining a friend’s acting group on Tuesday nights. I have had “Enrol in Toastmasters” on my unofficial to-do list for decades. I think that being part of either group would help me master my public speaking fear.

I want to overcome the fear because every once in a while I do public speaking for work. It is always hard for me. But I don’t want it to be.

When I watch someone who is so nervous up front, I get nervous for them. Honestly it kinda ruins my experience (as someone in the audience). It takes my attention off what I hope to gain from the speaker and puts it onto the nervous speaker. I get agitated with and for the speaker.

I don’t want to ruin the experience for others. As a speaker I do want to take the attention off me and put it onto the audience so that they can learn, feel, and grasp the good and godly that I am trying to portray.

“Courage is never to let your actions be influenced by your fears,”  Arthur Koestler.

I am not there yet, but I think that in 2014, I WILL take the leap and go to at least one of Pam’s Tuesday night classes. Who knows where that will lead? Less nervousness, I hope.

Your Turn . . . 

1. What is the activity you want to try but are too afraid to do? Are you going to tackle your fear in 2014? If yes, how?
2. How does public speaking rate on your list of fearful activities?
3. Do you have any advice for me?

Related Posts . . . 

1. 66 Ways to Build Your Courage by Christine Kane
2. How Does God Fit in with Goal Setting? by Fruitfulwords
3. I Can Do Hard Things by Fruitfulwords