[hkalchemy]

I used to be terrified - and I mean terrified - of public speaking. Whatever kind of panic you felt, I felt it worse, believe me. Even speaking to a small group of friends was difficult for me, and I went out of my way to avoid speaking to groups. But then I got a job that required me to do some public speaking, so I just had to get on with it.

Over the years, it got easier and easier. It wasn't all plain sailing - sometimes I would take a step back after getting to a very comfortable and relaxed stage, and have a panic attack. But I just got back up there are kept going.

Even now, I sometimes have a bit of anxiety, but I've almost put all that behind me and now I usually enjoy public speaking, somthing I could ever have imnagined a few years ago.

So keep going, remember you're just a persona and so is everyone in the audience. No one's perfect and we're trying our best. Relax. And you'll be fine.

You're right - it isn't as if we take this action in order to force what we want to happen. We take the action because we know that it will happen anyway, so taking the steps to get there is inevitable. If I'm sure that I'll be going to work today, I get out of bed, get dressed, leave the house and drive to work. I don't just lie in bed dreaming about going to work. But there's no doubt I'm going!