Stepping into Your Greatness: Lessons from the Limelight

hello, My Friend,

I recently had the incredible opportunity to speak at a statewide convention for mental health professionals with a colleague. This opportunity proved to be a pivotal moment in my journey as a speaker, coach and person. I learned some valuable lessons on overcoming apprehension and dealing with negative scripts that I would love to share with you.

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Facing Apprehension with the Limelight

Despite having the experience of being a self-care advocate, stepping into the limelight often brings on a wave of nerves. I am an introvert. One who covets solitude and often feels awkward and self-conscious around others. So, I naturally do not find being in the limelight as a place to seek out. And, as you can imagine, throughout my career, I have intentionally sought out opportunities in which I stayed in the background.

Despite my reality, the more people have learned about my life experiences and journey and witnessed my personal transformation, the more I began to find myself in spaces where I am sharing more. Simply put, the limelight has found me.

So, these days, I speak, facilitate and lead others through their personal and professional journeys toward self-discovery and transformation. While I have gotten more and more comfortable with speaking in front of large groups, there are times where apprehension and doubt still seem to creep in. Well, this is exactly what I recently experienced at my most recent speaking event. As I was preparing to face an audience of mental health professionals, the fears of how to best address the discerning audience began to flourish through my mind.

In the days leading up to the convention, I found myself grappling with negative thoughts. You know those scripts we replay in our heads, right? They threaten to undermine confidence and self esteem. These scripts, rooted in self-doubt and fear of judgment, are familiar to many, even those who excel in their respective fields.

Initially, I began with the “what if I forget what I am going to say?” and “what if I have something on my teeth” kind of thoughts. And then the bigger fear arose, “what if I fail?”, crept in. The apprehension was real and certain.

Yet, I kept taking one step forward and explored some thoughts to counter the fearful thoughts. My colleagues and I were there to share some important information and insights that others need to know as well. What we had to offer matters. My voice matters. So, one step at a time, one decision at a time, I faced the apprehension and stepped into the limelight.

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Challenging Negative Thought Scripts

Despite the replay that was happening in my head, I decided to drown out the noise with the affirmations, mantras and scriptures that I know to be true. Every time I did this, my thoughts shifted, which, in turn, changed the language I used to speak about the upcoming event and how I felt about it. I was able to regain control of the narrative that was playing.

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The Epiphany in the Limelight

The turning point in my speaking engagement came during the middle of the session. As I shared my insights on self-care with the attentive audience, a profound epiphany unfolded. It was a moment of clarity that transcended the initial apprehension and self-doubt. At that moment, I realized that I am good at this!

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I hope this story has inspired you to embrace the power of bringing your authentic and vulnerable self to the spaces and experiences that shape you to walk into your greatness.

With light and love,

Dr. Chelsea

*Disclaimer: The information in this blog post is not a substitute for professional mental health and/or physical health advice or treatment. If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health and/or physical health issues, please seek the help of a qualified professional.*