Last week marked a pivotal chapter in my personal growth journey, and let me tell you, it was a rollercoaster ride through my nervous system. I had the honor of being a speaker at the Professional Women’s Networking Event in the charming town of Rock Springs, Wyoming. To say I was nervous is an understatement, but the thrill of the challenge was undeniable. You see, I've spent my entire adult life as an entrepreneur, juggling multiple businesses, and I've reached a point where I want to be a guiding light for others, helping them find success, health, and the realization of their dreams. It was a dream come true to be in a room filled with powerful and inspiring WOMEN.
 
Most of my career was spent in a world that is male-driven. There are not a lot of female DJs, and the nightclub world is male-dominated. My passion for empowering women in business and sharing the lessons I'd learned along the way has been brewing inside me like a storm. The day of my speech, the butterflies in my stomach went into overdrive. I knew the jitters were part of the package, but that didn't make them any less real. I turned to my breathing exercises to calm my nerves and ensure my energy was in check. After all, who wants to be a bundle of nerves in front of a room filled with amazing women?
 
The speaker preceding me was someone I deeply respected, and we shared similar philosophies. I had my speech all figured out before the event, but as she began, I noticed some overlap in our content. My anxiety level skyrocketed. What if my message gets lost in the mix? What if I don't connect with the audience? What if I fail at speaking my truth in a way that resonates with these women?
 
Summoning every ounce of courage, I stepped onto the stage. My voice quivered, and my hands were shaking as I began to speak. I am suddenly having flashbacks to the 14-year-old me that had my first solo in a high school concert and I choked due to nerves. Isn’t our body's cellular memory fascinating??? At this point, I deviated from my prepared speech. With a shaky voice, I turned to the crowd and said, "Sorry, folks, I need your help for a moment." I placed my hand on my heart and started to breathe deeply. I explained to the audience that our nervous system doesn't always distinguish between excitement and fear. If we don't take a moment to breathe and calm down, our bodies can release cortisol, which only adds to the anxiety.
 
As I led the crowd through this impromptu session of box breathing and offered gentle explanations, I was inadvertently soothing my own nervous system. It was like watching a storm cloud dissipate and reveal the sun. Once I felt ready, I continued with my speech.
 
After my talk, I stepped off the stage and confided in a friend, "I hope that went okay. I had to calm myself down up there." Her response was, "You were great, and you have no idea what you just did up there."
 
She was right; I was oblivious to the magic that had just happened at that moment. I gave every woman in that room the permission to be human.  The compliments and gratitude I received for my willingness to be vulnerable and demonstrate how I conquered fear were heartwarming. I had unintentionally become a living, breathing example of what I teach my clients. That's what authenticity looks like; I was just being me.
 
My speech centered on the idea of connecting with your heart center, no matter your line of business. Are you living your truth and infusing your heart's desires into your work? If not, how can you integrate elements of yourself into your business to create your magnetism that people can feel? My truth and vulnerability were my secret weapons, and they can be yours too if you dare to lean into your heart center and embrace your truth. People don't want a cookie-cutter version of you; they want the authentic, unfiltered, and inspiring you that lies behind closed doors.
 
So, let my journey be a testament to the fact that sometimes our fears and vulnerabilities are our greatest superpowers. Take a deep breath, step into the spotlight, and let your authenticity shine like a beacon. After all, it's the quirky, unique, and perfectly imperfect you that the world is waiting to embrace.

Amanda - @luxhealingarts