By TM Dipti Jain
There's a moment, just before you speak, when the world seems to freeze.
Your mind races. Your throat tightens. You suddenly forget everything you were about to say—even your own name feels like a foreign word.
If you've ever felt this way, you're not alone.
In fact, fear of public speaking Glossophobia is one of the most common human fears.
But here's the truth no one tells you: "Fear is also one of the most powerful invitations to grow."
I remember standing on a school stage during a small class competition. The mic was taller than I was. I had practiced my lines a hundred times—but when I looked out at the sea of eyes staring back, my mind went blank.
Ten seconds passed. Then fifteen. It felt like the world had stopped turning. I wanted to run, but I didn't.
That moment—awkward and terrifying—was the first step toward something I never imagined: falling in love with public speaking.
Not because I became fearless. But because I discovered something more important.
My VOICE.
Fear, in this case, doesn't mean you're weak. It means you care.
You care about being heard. You care about making sense. You care about not letting yourself down.
The fear of speaking is rarely about the speaking itself. It's about the story we tell ourselves: What if I mess up? What if I look foolish? What if they don't like me?
But the real question is: What if you're amazing, and you never give yourself the chance to find out?
You don't have to begin with a TED Talk. Just start where you are.