How often do you go outside your comfort zone and do something that you find just a little bit scary?
I don’t do it very often. I’m very organized. I like to execute things according to a plan. I generally like to know what’s going to happen. I have my routines, and they suit me just fine.
The boss-lady at work recommended i get some speaking experience. And public speaking is not something in my comfort zone. I’ve given a few presentations, and i like to think i do okay with plenty of practice. But i know there are many improvements i could make, and i’m definitely not very good at on-the-spot, high pressure requests for input that require more than a sentence from me. So i’ve recently joined the ToastMaster’s group at work.
Three weeks now i’ve attended, and yesterday i spoke up for the first time. It was very weirdly difficult to try and coherently express the ideas that i had in my head, but hadn’t rehearsed at all how to say it. You wouldn’t think just talking and saying what you think would be that hard. It’s not hard for everyone. Lance, for example, has no problem getting in front of a group and talking about bridge. Me, i have to practice.
Well anyway, it should be an interesting experience. Definitely outside my comfort zone. And the ultimate goal is self-improvement, which i strongly believe we should all undertake throughout our lives.