What to do with your fear

Have you ever been so nervous speaking in public that you forgot to breathe?

The late Jane Goodall, world-renowned conservationist, told the story of her first-ever public lecture, to 5,000 people in Washington, D.C.

She was so terrified that for several minutes, she wasn’t sure she’d even breathed.

And then something happened.

She realised she had something she truly wanted to share. That what she had to say mattered.

And her fear transformed into purpose.

The talk marked a real turning point in how she began sharing her message with the world.


That shift — from “I’m not sure I can do this” to “I have something to share, and it’s important” — is one I think about often.

Many of us have ideas, experiences, or insights we hesitate to voice.

But what if we reframed stage fright not as a barrier, but as a signal: “I care about this.”

Jane Goodall’s recent passing makes that story feel even more poignant — a reminder of how her quiet courage continues to resonate.

We don’t have to be fearless. We can let our nervousness be the spark that fuels connection and authentic leadership.

Where courage and compassion share the same stage.

💡 If you’ve ever stood in front of a crowd, heart racing, and then felt that shift — that moment of “I want to share this” — what helped you move through it?

Photo by Charles MingZ on Unsplash