It’s a pretty accepted fact that one of mankind’s greatest fears, beyond pain or death, is public speaking. Well, I knew that very fear all too well. I am no different than anybody else in that regard. But I couldn’t let that stop me and I couldn’t let my fear of public speaking be another one of those things that knocked me down. Otherwise I would never have a chance to tell people what’s in my heart. Instead I started getting up in front of audiences – small at first and – and gave myself a little OJT – and I started to be OK with it. And then I was coached and practiced more, got in front of larger groups, realized that a combination of my more polished speaking and my message mattered to other people, won them over and finally recognized I had overcome my fear of public speaking. Now, instead, it is replaced with excitement and a desire to do better every time I have the chance. As we are kicking off my upcoming book tour with the release of “Live Courageously”, we are scheduling some exciting appearances and so now I am actually working with an off Broadway professional speech and choreography coach, I will have stage dressing and audio visual support and will be in full stunt woman protective gear when I enter the stage. As my talk progresses, I will actually shed most of that protective gear. It is a metaphor for things that protect us behind which we hide. As a stuntwoman, yes, I need protection. I didn’t actually die 8 times on the Titanic – look for a future blog on that subject – thanks to protective gear. But in life, to be self-realized it is essential that we shed those things behind which we are only hiding. But whatever you do, just don’t ask me to take off my MAC makeup.

This entry was posted on Thursday, May 21st, 2009 at 10:00 am by Terri Cadiente and is filed under Speaking. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.