Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's tip to overcome her fear of speaking up in Congress is career advice

[TomCADem]

This is not really political per se, but it just confirms that it is an amazing accomplishment that a 29 year old woman was able to win a Congressional election and she offers some helpful tips on dealing with the fear associated with putting yourself out there. I think her advice would be helpful to anyone confronting the fear of speaking and being heard.

https://www.businessinsider.com/alexandria-ocasio-cortez-fear-motivation-2019-2

In an Instagram post over the weekend, Ocasio-Cortez said that breaking the rules of decorum, such as addressing a committee chair the wrong way, "can have consequences small and large." "Opposing party members are always looking for the slightest slip-up to gum up process or make an example of you." she said.

Even though speaking on the floor for the first time can be "scary," Ocasio-Cortez said, she overcame her fear by treating it as motivation instead of a deterrent.

"Here's my trick: for a long time, I've used fear as a guiding light instead of a reason to turn off," Ocasio-Cortez said on Instagram.

"For me, fear isn't saying 'go away,' fear tells me 'this is new, and it *could* be dangerous. There are are stakes here,'" she said. "But I've very frequently interpreted fear as a growth cusp. Aside from some concrete fears, we often don't know what we're afraid of until we get there, and feel it. Fear tells us how to grow. Fear, like a lot of discomfort, forces us to choose: 'Do I do this, or not?'"

[mopinko]

1. my motto-

fear is a thief.

[enough]

2. I'm 75 years old, and this wisdom is something I need to hear even at this late date.

In all areas of life.

[Fresh_Start]

3. bookmarking to share with my kids nt

nt

[jcgoldie]

4. Either that or...

...there's a lion about to eat you and fear is telling you to run!

Just teasing... these are pretty profound insights from AOC.

[onlyadream]

5. I call fears "dragons that must be slayed "

I used to dodge my dragons, but over the last few years as I entered my 50s, I started to look at life in a different way.
AOC is very wise.

[Apollyonus]

6. This is not new

Almost all speaking coaches tell this

There is no "fear" per se except a fear of making a fool of yourself.

It's not like an 18 wheeler is going to run over you if you speak the wrong word.

But then, some want to elevate everything perfunctory said by AOC as though it came from Plato, Aristotle, Sun Tzu, Gandhi, Lincoln or Dalai Lama.

[TomCADem]

8. That Is What Is Impressive

A professional speech coach would say that. But a 29 year old young woman who actually puts theory into practice?

[Apollyonus]

9. Almost all public speakers do that

Even 12 year olds in debate teams.

However, if you want to elevate and exalt someone average to a deity, more power to you.

[TomCADem]

10. You Would Only Give Praise to a 12 Year Old ...

... on a debate team if they were god like? A deity no less. Wow.

I guess if your standard is that someone has to be godlike before you can share there advice, then I can understand the reluctance to acknowledge what you admit is good advice.

[Wounded Bear]

7. "Fear is the mind killer."

“I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain.”

― Frank Herbert, Dune

[lunatica]

11. Confronting your fears guarantees you'll find your strengths and successes

Always push the envelope when it will make the difference between success or failure. It’s like climbing a ladder one fearful rung at a time. Before you know it you’re at the top and feeling triumphant.