As I look back at my week, there are a few things that stand out. This week, it seemed like some parts were moving at high speeds while other parts were moving in slow motion. Some things made me happy while others did not. With all the connections that we have in life, it's awesome when everything is working and clicking but the reality is it's difficult for everything to align perfectly. When it does, it's a wonder to behold and everything feels great. I'm not saying I experienced this wonder this week but I think I may be getting closer. This week I understood the importance of social interaction a little more.
A positive part of my week is that I continued to grow socially. I attended a meeting to strengthen my public speaking. Normally, I would not have subjected myself to this situation. You have to stand in front of people and talk about random topics...and you don't always get a choice of the topic. I prefer to have more control over what I speak about as well as ample time to prepare. This time I was just thrown into the spotlight. And I stumbled...I couldn't find all the right words. There were many awkward pauses and "ums" as I searched for the correct words to complete my story. A few words came out correctly and they had more power behind them but overall I thought it was a mess...but I survived. Later, I found out this episode only lasted 1 minute and 20 seconds. It felt like an eternity when the spotlight was on me. I had the honor of watching 2 seasoned speakers speaking as eloquently as I strive to reach. It's amazing to see someone controlling their fear and easily expressing their thoughts to an audience of strangers. I realize that this comes with time and practice.
Still outside of my comfort zone, I attended another meeting that focused on networking. This time I wasn't speaking in front of a large group of strangers but just meeting new people. The more I spoke to people, the more I enjoyed it. One conversation that stood out was a guy I spoke with that said he's not a very social person like me. I told him I am the same way and he almost could not believe it because I had been talking so much. I was just a little hyper from how my week was going. He also spoke a lot for a non social person. At the end of the day, I met a business contact as well as a potential friend.
Maybe I mention stepping out of your comfort zone a lot, but I honestly believe you'll be a stronger and wiser person for it. The next time something makes you uncomfortable and you want to run away, try it and see how you feel afterwards.
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