There’s something meditative about being in the water and zoning out as your body cuts through the water.
I’ve always had a preference for pools, finding comfort in being able to see my hands, touch the bottom, and count laps as I go back and forth.
Enter Summer 2020, many months since I’ve been in a pool in Brooklyn, and I’ll take any body of water I can find. Creeks, waterfalls, lakes, puddles.
For the first time in 43 years, I swam across a lake (two in fact).
Crossing a lake is thrilling and terrifying.
There’s a lot of build-up:
wondering how long it will take
worrying about the invisible (or imagined) dangers
wondering if you have enough energy to swim back
hesitating because it’s cold
Eventually, you just have to jump in.
Put one hand in front of the other and start.
Swim into the fear.
It’s a lot like speaking.
You build it up in your mind.
You imagine the dangers and worst-case scenarios.
Your nerves takes over and your brain tries to tries to talk you out of it.
You’ve got two choices when that happens.
You can stay paralyzed in fear or you can trust yourself and go forward.
The next time you’re standing at the edge of the lake hesitating, be it an actual lake or the lake of fear standing between you and a presentation, use these techniques to stay present in your body and move through your fear.
1. Slow down your breathing
Rub your hands together and slowly inhale and exhale. Tapping into another sense, in this case touch and experience what your hands feel like, slows down the sympathetic nervous system and allows you to access a different part of the brain.
2. Ground Yourself
Put your feet on the floor and feel the ground beneath you. Stand if you can. If you can prop up your computer and create a standing desk, I recommend it.
There’s a reason they stand in your power. It’s easier to command presence, project your voice and confidently inhabit your body when you stand.
3. Practice
We all start somewhere. Don’t be afraid of a little dirt and mud. Dust it off and keep going. Sometimes the process is messy.
4. Do it Scared
Fear is a natural human emotion. It’s okay to feel scared and take action anyway.
I used to be terrified of public speaking and getting comfortable speaking in front of groups is one of my proudest achievements. Being on the other side of that fear is one of the most liberating experiences of my adult life.
If you’re wondering what awaits you on the other side of the lake, swim into the fear.
I’m here to help.
Hi, I’m Madeline. I help quiet leaders and organizations communicate their story and invite audiences into their world.
I’ve trained hundreds of professionals to confidently articulate their ideas and transform how they communicate at work, at home and in life.
I’ve worked with companies such as Mastercard, The Jewish Museum, Mt. Sinai and Ellevate Network.
