Recently, I’ve been having more opportunities to speak to groups of people. As a kid, I couldn’t stand giving class presentations. Half the time, I would just stand there and laugh because I felt so nervous.
Not much has changed since I started talking in front of people as an adult. I still get nervous, my heart still races, and sometimes I just want to turn around and leave.
But I always have to remind myself that this isn’t about me. It’s about teaching my boys, guiding them, and showing them not to run from their fears. I still get nervous, but I don’t want my boys to see me run from fear. I want them to see that fear is normal, but it does not have to control you.
We are often our own worst enemies. We keep ourselves from achieving what we want or reaching our greater potential because we are worried about what other people think of us. But in reality, they are worried about what other people think of them too.
So I tell my boys: don’t worry about what others think. Do what feels right to you, and don’t ever hide who you are because of judgment. Don’t live in the past or the future. Stay present in the moment, and you will soon see how beautiful life truly is.