Week Two: "Brave"

We hear over and over that the #1 most popular fear in the developed world, after Death, is Public Speaking. I'm a singer, and in 15 years of auditions, competitions, and opening nights, I've learned that it's not being onstage that requires bravery. The biggest challenge is beating the fear that hits you when you're ABOUT to go onstage. Once you're out in the spotlight, the bright stage lights hide the audience from your view so that you're acting or singing for sparkling light, not for a judging audience. The terror is in those few moments before you walk out onstage, because in the shadows of the wings, you can see every bored, unimpressed face out in the audience.

The beautiful teenage actress at the left of the photo is next to audition, and while her peer is onstage dazzling the judges with his skills, she has to listen to him shine and feel her heart beat and her memorized speech vaporize. When he finishes speaking and it's her moment to soar or crash, the real bravery is in taking those last five steps out into the spotlight instead of giving up and going home.

I hope that in our lives, we always find the strength and bravery to take those last few steps out into the spotlight and discover just what we're capable of accomplishing.