Goal Setting & Growth
At this current point in time, what specific goal(s) do you have for yourself? Why?
At the moment, I'd like to work on my public speaking skills. Speaking in front of a crowd has always been difficult for me since I've been reserved for as long as I can remember. I'd grown accustomed to keeping to myself, so I never felt the need to challenge myself or step outside of my comfort zone. This, however, proved to be a weakness because I frequently found myself missing out on great opportunities that I could have had if only I had overcome my fear of public speaking. My determination to overcome this fear was then strengthened by this constant restriction and limitation. I want to first take small steps to test my boundaries in hopes of breaking down the barrier of talking to people and eventually learn to speak in a more cohesive manner that can convey confidence.
How do you demonstrate resilience (the ability to recover quickly from setbacks) towards achieving this goal? (or these goals?)
When confronted with a challenge, I try to take a brief moment to myself to collect my thoughts before presenting the information. For example, when forced to present in front of an audience, I've struggled to speak on several occasions. When I was expected to speak, my heart would race, I would stutter, and my mind would go blank. However, I've recently been attempting to overcome this by preparing much more in advance, such as writing a 'script' of what I'm going to say and rehearsing it to myself the day before. This helps me to organize my thoughts and ensures that I don't simply look at the board during a presentation. I also try to relax my nerves by taking a deep breath before proceeding.
How does the world around you affect your perception of this goal? (or these goals?)
The world around me influences my perception of my goal because in the past, I used to wonder what jobs I could have in the future that didn't require much, if any, public speaking. The world, on the other hand, does not work that way. When placed in social situations, successful individuals often know how to speak to others in a charismatic and charming manner. It is essentially what allows them to make connections and expand their network, which can be extremely beneficial regardless of the career. As a result, I've concluded that it's an important skill set to possess. While it may be difficult to overcome, leadership and communication are both necessary components of our daily lives that can lead to great opportunities, and I shouldn't let my fear of public speaking prevent me from pursuing my dreams and goals in life.