Have you ever heard someone say that if you are afraid to speak in public, you just have to imagine everyone in the audience as being naked or wearing funny clothes, or some other quirky thing, and if you do, you won’t be nervous anymore? Have you tried it? I haven’t. I’m usually too nervous to remember to do it. These days, I don’t get so nervous in front of groups, and while I think there might be something to that trick – for some people perhaps – I am not so sure it would work for me. For one thing, I would be laughing too much. I think of the scene in one of the Harry Potter movies where one of the kids imagines his biggest fear – one of the teachers (Alan Rickman) dressed in his grandmother’s silliest clothes and I laugh. It is pretty funny; so if I start imagining people wearing funny clothes (or naked), not only would I start laughing at inappropriate moments, but I would likely forget where I am in my speech/talk.
When I think of the things I might be afraid of these days, public speaking is not a big one. That is not to say it is a favorite thing of mine; I’m just saying there are so many other bigger things going on in the world to be afraid of than speaking in front of other people. I expect that would be a better deterrent to some of our fears: realizing that there are much, much worse things to fear. A crowd of people listening to us talk is more apt to either be not paying attention or they are listening because they are interested in what I’m talking about. In which case – no real enemies out there. The worst that can happen is they all fall asleep because I am boring. Or they throw tomatoes or vulgarities at me, if they don’t agree with my position. Both are survivable. (Most of us aren’t going to be in the position of having anything worse than tomatoes being flung at us.)
When things seemed difficult to me years ago when living with an “inconsiderate” (now ex) husband, or raising my children alone, or raising a bunch of kids and step kids under often straining circumstances, I would remind myself that at least I hadn’t been born a Jew during World War II (the Holocaust). When I did that, I remembered how very fortunate/blessed I was being born where and when I had been born, and it would be easier to forge ahead with a joyful heart.
Remember, whatever it is you fear, chances are there are much worse things to fear. Be glad for what you are NOT facing. Fear only gets in the way of living – in joy, in peace, in moving forward. Even the news of your imminent death – though that’s one of the worst scenarios to consider – can be overcome for joy. The time you have left can be drowned in fear, sorrow, and self-pity, or it can be used to wrap up everything you want left behind, including seeing our loved ones as much as possible. Make a choice to not be afraid, or to do “it” afraid. Whatever “it” is. Life. Is. Short: Live.
Comments