I was in 7th standard, was chosen to give a speech or to chant a mantra.
Now it makes me sweat, but junior Chetneet was an overconfident brat. So as expected, I didn't prepare how to chant the mantra. At the speech day, I sensed my life's first Grit. A Grit that can be felt when you know you are doomed. I didn't prepare for the speech.
So on the D-Day, I went to the stage and held the mic. I started my first word. Omg. It is so much different to stand the other side and makes fun of the speech. I know I haven't stated in my life before this. And I can already feel that.
Whenever you say a word on the mic, it gets amplified and repeated into a loud, and you hate your voice. I can see people laughing at me, and as I am already convinced that I would not give another speech in my life.
That was my bad day, you can say. Worst in my life. Everyone going to remember that day. Fast forward three years, I met someone from my old school. I reconnected my memory of that speech and hesitated to talk to her. Then she remembers me and started a conversation. She said she reminds me ultimately. And out of thin air, I told her about that speech day. She said.
She - "Yea, We used to have a lot of fun. That day was good too."
Now she is going to make the fun of me. I thought.
She - "I had also participated in that day." I couldn't wait for more and surrender.
Me - "And I have participated too in mantra chanting (that speech). Remember?"
She - "Umm, Nope. You went to the stage?"
Me - "Yeah, you and your group were making fun of me" (nervously laughs)
She - "No. I don't remember that incident."
No Fear Rule
That was it. LESSON LEARNED. If something doesn't affect you after five years. Or even after one year, it isn't worth fearing it. It just doesn't worth it.
Gary Vaynerchuk says, we have two types of problems. One is those which will affect us long term, and others are those who influence us only for a short time. And 95% of our problems come in the latter one.
The amateur believes he must first overcome his fear; then, he can do his work. The professional knows that fear can never be overcome.― Steven Pressfield, The War of Art
Chetneet Chouhan