Stepping Up to Your Fears

Today I gave a speech to 350+ people. While it was a fairly nerve racking thing, there's really nothing to it. Walking up to the podium I was bracing myself to trip, but I didn't, giving the speech I was prepared to say something stupid, but I didn't, and I was sure that I would give my speech, get home, and see that my pants had a humongous hole in the back showing off my underwear or an offensive drawing on the back of my suit jacket... but none of that happened. Despite the fact that I was giving a speech in front of numerous people, whats the difference in cooking a new meal that may have a challenging task within it? There really is no difference in spinning sugar for the first time and giving a speech in front of thousands. So why do both of those tasks scare us? I'm not sure. Is it the people staring? Possibly the hot oven? What about the microphone that is extremely hard to talk in? Why not try something hard and challenge our bodies and our minds.

"Life's challenges are not supposed to paralyze you, they're
supposed to help you discover who you are."

~Bernice Johnson Reagon