You can't fail if you don't try

Why are you afraid of trying something new in your public speaking appearances? Why don't you try to be more expressive with gestures? Why not try a different pace or volume in your vocal variety?

Why don't you write articles for your Toastmasters District newsletter?

Is it because you are afraid to fail? Are you afraid that if you commit to write an article, or use a new gesture then you may mess up? Are you afraid of what the audience will think? Are you afraid that you will let yourself down and not live up to your own expectations?

You are right. You cannot fail if you never try. You can stay in the safety of your current speaking style and remain an anonymous reader of your Toastmasters District newsletter. Why risk failure and ridicule?

No risk, no reward. If you don't try to reach new objectives and take on tasks that make you feel uncomfortable at first, then you will never grow and you will never be more than you are today. The choice is yours.

What is the worst that can happen? In most cases, the worst that can happen is that you mess up and have egg on your face. Big deal. How much egg does a politician have on his face after declaring a war that killed thousands of people, in search of weapons of mass destruction.

You are in a better spot. Take a risk and be willing to fail. Go ahead and try. The only action that is worse than failing, is not trying at all. But beware. Not trying becomes a habit and leads to never gaining significant rewards.