What a scary experience I had this week. I gave a two-minute talk at an eWomenNetwork chapter event…just two minutes. That’s it. And somehow, those two minutes felt more intimidating than any workshop I’ve ever led. The interesting part? I won that speaking opportunity the month before—and from the moment I found out, I went straight into freak-out mode. For an entire month. I even attended a two-day speaking workshop (Speakonomics) just to feel more prepared. I practiced.

Meditation isn’t always easy for me. Like many of us, my mind can be a busy place. There’s often a long list of things that need to be done. Projects I’m working on. Deadlines. Responsibilities. The quiet hum of worry about what might not get finished. Fear, doubt, and endless to-do lists can quickly fill the mind and make it challenging to truly settle in. But this day was different.

When emotions rise quickly — especially fear or frustration — they can hijack us before we even realize what’s happening. And afterward, we’re often left feeling worse, replaying the moment and thinking about what we wish we had done differently.