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Welcome to Stuff I Learned Yesterday. My name is Barb Rankin, I studied Latin for two years in Junior High School, and I believe that if you aren’t learning, you aren’t living. In today’s episode of Stuff I Learned Yesterday I share a lesson about recognizing and facing your fears.
Fun Fact:
If you are a LOST fan, then you may recall that in the Season 5 episode, “Jughead,” when Sawyer asked Juliet how she learned to speak Latin, she replied: “Others 101. It’s the language of the enlightened.” The earliest know Latin inscription was found on a 6th century BC pin, and the earliest Latin literature appears between 250 – 100 BC. Latin was spread throughout the known world as the Romans established their empire. Interestingly, Latin as a language “died” in the 600 – 750 AD time period, but was revived during Charlemagne’s reign, and into the Renaissance. It is the basis of the romance languages, and over 60% of the words in the English language today have either Greek or Latin roots. The word, fear, has its origins in Old English, not Latin. Maybe those Roman conquers weren’t afraid and had no need for that word.
What I Learned Yesterday:
I remember the exact moment when I realized that I suffered from stage fright, and the moment that I realized I didn’t like crossing tall bridges, and the moment when I knew I had a fear of heights, and the moment that I knew I was claustrophobic.
Are you sensing a pattern? Think about the first time you realized that you were afraid of something – I mean REALLY afraid. It sticks with you, doesn’t it?
I studied Latin in the 8th and 9th grades, and had a fantastic teacher who encouraged and inspired us to learn. She was creative as well, and she partnered with other Latin teachers in the area to hold special events where we sang, or performed plays in Latin. I was thrilled when she asked me to participate in a play that would be held in our school’s auditorium, and the other Latin students and students from our Junior High school would be able to attend.
It wasn’t going to be a little part. It was going to be a starring role! We were going to perform Goldilocks and the Three Bears in Latin, and I was going to be……..Goldilocks! I was so excited!
Since I am a brunette, mom bought a mop and we took the yarn off the end, dyed it yellow, and that would be my hair. I wore a navy blue and green plaid jumper, with a navy blue turtleneck, navy blue knee high socks, and my penny loafers.
It was the big day. I walked out on stage to deliver my lines in the school auditorium, looked out at all the people, and froze. I realized I looked silly with a yellow yarn mop on top of my head. I couldn’t remember a word I was supposed to say.
My teacher was a smart woman. She had cue cards ready for all of us in case this should happen, and I fumbled through my lines. I couldn’t “exit stage right” fast enough.
Fortunately, I didn’t have to give presentations in college or in my early jobs, but when I took a position with a Fortune 500 company, that changed. As “up and coming young leaders,” we were expected to participate in a management development program that would expand our skill sets, including public speaking. It was a disaster. I ranked dead last out of 16 people in the first semester of the program, primarily driven by my lack of presentation and public speaking skill sets.
We all have fears – that’s a very normal part of life. Some fears are big; some are small. Fear can be paralyzing. There are people who struggle with great fear on a daily basis, and I don’t know how that feels, or how difficult it can be. Most of us can face our fears if we choose to do so. Does fear prevent you from doing something you really want to do?
I have a fear of heights, and hate being near the ledge of a mountain. On a visit to the Grand Canyon, I went to one of the scenic points to watch and take photos of the sunset. As I went dashing out on the rocks, I was suddenly griped with fear and had to slow down, ease my way to the rail and wrap myself around it so that I wouldn’t slip and fall over the edge, while waiting for the sunset. It was irrational, but it was my real fear, and although I was afraid, I wasn’t going to allow my fear make me miss this opportunity. Over the years, I’ve hiked and taken adventure vacations that put me near ledges, and I’ve learned to take deep breaths, be extra careful with my steps, and enjoy the sights. It doesn’t mean that the fear is gone, but I’m not letting it rule me.
So what can you do about it? First, you need to recognize and acknowledge your fear, and try to understand why you feel the way you do. If I am afraid of a mountain ledge because I tend to not watch my steps, be a klutz, and slip and fall, then I need to be more careful about how I walk. I’ll use a walking stick and make sure I’m not carrying a heavy backpack that will cause me to lose my balance. I ensure I have the proper hiking boots, with good grip. I never hike alone. I take deep breaths, and use calming exercises to help me face my fears head on.
Is your fear something that you address by practicing tips and techniques, by writing about it, by seeking assistance from a professional, by praying about it?
For my public speaking fears, I spoke with a mentor at work who offered a surprisingly simple technique. He advised me to stand in front of a mirror and practice giving speeches to myself. It’s hard to be afraid when you are trying to give yourself a speech in the mirror and you keep laughing at yourself. I’ve practiced this for years, and while I’ll never be an expert and polished public speaker, I’ve managed to provide business updates to leadership, speak to my church congregation, and give presentations to classes. And it helps that I’m not wearing a yellow yarn mop wig when I do it!
Here’s what I learned.
I have many fears – some real and some imagined – some I magnify and some I minimize. But by recognizing them, by facing them, I am doing things that I might otherwise miss. I want to ensure that the gifts and talents I have been given can be shared with others, and that I don’t let fear stop me.
Do you have gifts and talents that you are not using because fear is holding you back? Recognize it, and face your fear. Talk to others, and let them help you. You may not have a fear free life, but you will have a fuller one.
I’m Barb Rankin and this has been stuff I learned yesterday.
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