Teaching myself how to be courageous, without anyone knowing I was scared
What if an opportunity was presented to you and you had to answer on the spot. Would you say yes? Or back down, over thinking whether you can really do it, have the knowledge, skills, #courage, speak, show, etc?
I can't begin to explain the fear that soared through me when I was asked to lecture at the local hospital to doctors and nurses, whose first language, btw, was not English! Medical professionals listening to me?! What did I have to teach them that they didn't already know? I hadn't taught medical professionals before, how in the world could I do that in a foreign country, in a foreign language?!
Fear filled me and I wanted to say no way! What do I have to offer?! But instead my answer was "Yes! Of course!".
I had been volunteering in Sri Lanka for two weeks at the time- helping nursing students with their English, teaching a few of theirs classes on #diabetes, and helping at the local orphanage- caring for the children, painting rooms, taking kids to doctors appointments, whatever they needed. I was just starting to get into the groove of life (and the heat!) in Sri Lanka when the opportunity was presented to me.
A week later, I was standing in front of at least 40 hospital staff.
I was SO nervous!! To make things worse, I was late (traveling by bus to another village), was rushing, and in the extreme heat, I stood there, with sweat dripping down my legs and back, as I fumbled trying to get the projector to work - with all eyes on me! My heart was pounding so loudly, it deafened my ears.
As I spoke, my nerves calmed, and I started enjoying myself. I've always loved #teaching and connecting with people, and felt in my element. I reminded myself, the staff who attended were there to support me.
I'm not sure how much of the content they grasped due to the language barrier, and, it doesn't matter. It came down to an experience - an experience of stepping out of my comfort zone, of saying yes when I had the biggest doubts, an experience of being filled with #fear and doing it anyway, an experience of a lifetime - that created a memory I will cherish for always, an experience of proving to myself I can do it and survive, an experience of feeling the freedom of breaking free from my mind.
#Confidence doesn't come from perfection or mastery. It comes from taking action when you want to quit, when you're face to face with fear and do it anyway!
"Fear has two meanings: 'Forget everything and run' or 'Face everything and rise'. The choice is yours. ~ Zig Ziglar