From Fear to Self-Compassion: What My Two-Minute Talk Taught Me

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. I meditated. I rehearsed over and over again.

Because here’s the thing…

I love being in front of an audience.

Give me a full workshop, time to teach, space to connect—I’m in my element.

But two minutes to make an impact? That felt like pressure.

The Calm…Before the Shake

The day of the event, I actually felt calm.

I made a conscious decision:

This isn’t about me. It’s about them.

About connecting. About serving. About impact.

And I believed it.

Until I walked up, grabbed the microphone……and everything changed.

My body started shaking.

My mind went blank.

Everything I had practiced? Gone.

But then something shifted.

As I continued, I found my rhythm again.I softened. I connected. I came back to myself.

And I closed with a practice—a yoga pose that embodies the pillars of my S.E.L.F. Empowerment framework:

Tree Pose

Grounded.

Balanced.

Rooted…even while reaching.

And yes…even in Tree Pose, my body was still shaking.

The Story I Told Myself

When it was over, my immediate thought was:

I failed.

My mind went straight to disappointment. Frustration. Self-criticism.

You know that voice.

But then something unexpected happened…

People started coming up to me, telling me how much they loved my talk.

Loved it.

And when I shared how nervous I was, they were shocked.

They said they had no idea.

No idea.

What My Two-Minute Talk Taught Me

That’s when it hit me...

How quickly we turn moments into meaning.

How fast we label something as failure.

How harshly we judge ourselves.

We can take an experience like that—and let it damage us.

Or…

We can meet it with love.

With compassion.

With curiosity.

Instead of asking, “Why did I mess that up?”

We can ask, “What is this moment here to teach me?”

From Fear to Self-Compassion

In that moment, I realized exactly what needed attention for me:

Self-compassion.

Not more preparation.

Not more perfection.

More compassion.

Because the truth is—there will always be moments that feel like failure.

Moments that challenge us. Stretch us. Shake us (literally).

But those moments aren’t failures.

They’re part of the journey.

They’re here to grow us.

Confidence, Love, and the Bigger Picture

If I’m really honest with myself…

The nerves didn’t come from lack of preparation.

They came from lack of confidence.

And confidence isn’t something we magically arrive at.

It’s built.

Through practice. Through experience. Through showing up anyway.

And self-love?

That comes from accepting yourself—in the wins and the wobbles.

In the polished moments…and the shaking-in-tree-pose moments.

Even If No One Said a Word…

Here’s the deeper truth I’m holding onto:

Even if no one had come up to me afterward…Even if there were no compliments…

I still deserve my own kindness.

My own compassion.

Because I am bigger than one moment.

And so are you.

The Ripple Effect

I feel so grateful to be doing this work.

To guide others through practices of mindfulness, movement, and self-empowerment.

Because when we cultivate self-love, confidence, and compassion within ourselves…it doesn’t stop with us.

It ripples.

Into our relationships.

Our communities.

Our world.

And that…is the real impact.

SELF Reflection

Where in your life are you being too hard on yourself?

What if, instead of calling it a failure…

you saw it as feedback?

And what would it look like to meet yourself there—with compassion?

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Author, Phyllis Smith

Phyllis Smith is the Founder/CEO of Rejuvecise. She is a Yoga Instructor, Serenity Coach, and S.E.L.F Leadership Guide in the Dallas, Texas area. She is also the creator of the S.E.L.F. Empowerment framework, which develops SELF Leadership through the principles of Stability (physical, mental, emotional, spiritual), Environment, Love (self-compassion), and Friendship. Her mission is to empower people to cultivate clarity, stability, and self-leadership through mind-body practices for a better world. Click HERE to learn more about the variety of services offered and/or contact Phyllis at Phyllis@Rejuvecise.com for a FREE 30-minute discovery call today. (Services offered both in-person and online)