“Can you please speak with me, I feel very anxious” - I asked my co-passenger
A Lesson in Courage: Facing my fears at 30,000 Ft ✈️
The Goa plan was finally happening.
This one was special. It was for a Toastmasters District Conference.
A weekend event I had been eagerly looking forward to.
I was excited to hear from top speakers, including the winner of the "World Championship of Public Speaking (2015).
But little did I know, this journey would take me on a rollercoaster ride of emotions.
It was late in the evening when I boarded the plane, exhausted from a long day of work. The flight was delayed by two whole hours, making me feel even more tired and anxious.
I was traveling with a friend and member from our Toastmasters club. But we were seated far apart. She was in 1F while I was in 39A.
Now, let me tell you something about myself. I've never been a big fan of flying.
The thought of being thousands of feet above the ground, with nothing but clouds beneath me. Ugh! This always made my heart race with fear.
But as I travel pretty frequently for work, I've gotten used to it – or so I thought.
As the plane took off into the night sky, I tried to distract myself with podcasts. Tried to fold my jacked into a pillow to fall asleep. Even tried slow breathing exercises to stay calm.
But as we soared higher, the turbulence grew stronger, shaking the plane like a leaf in the wind.
My heart pounded in my chest as I gripped the armrest tightly. My mind was filled with thoughts of what could go wrong.
Then, just when I thought things couldn't get any worse, the pilot's voice crackled over the intercom:
"We're sorry to inform you that we're caught in a thunderstorm, and we won't be able to land for at least 45 minutes"
Fear rushed over me like a big wave, almost taking over completely.
I looked around. Surrounded by seemingly calm passengers. I felt utterly alone in my fear.
“Damn! Am I the only one who’s this scared?” - I thought to myself.
I desperately wished for someone to talk to, someone who could understand what I was going through.
Gathering all the courage I had left, I turned to the person sitting next to me – a stranger until now.
With a shaky voice, I gently tapped on his elbow. My co-passenger was completely focussed on a Netflix series he was binging. I felt really dumb but I went on anyway.
“Can you please speak with me? I feel very anxious," I whispered.
Hoping against hope that he would understand. To my relief, he instantly removed his earphones and turned to me with a kind smile.
"Of course," he replied, his voice warm and reassuring.
And just like that, a weight lifted off my shoulders as we began to chat. We talked about where we were from, our families, our jobs – anything to distract ourselves from the turbulence outside.
He kept asking questions. Turns out we had a lot of things in common.The rest of the flight passed in a blur of conversation.
I thought to myself… “Wow! This wasn’t as difficult as I thought”
“We suffer more in imagination than in reality” - Seneca
It took strength to admit that I was scared and needed someone to lean on. And in that moment, I found the support I needed to face my fears head-on.
By the time we landed in Goa, I felt like a completely different person – stronger, braver, and more resilient.
Asking for help can be daunting, whether you're navigating through a thunderstorm at 30,000 feet or facing a challenging task at work. But just like on that turbulent flight, finding the courage to reach out can make all the difference.
“Courage is grace under pressure.” — Ernest Hemingway
When I'm feeling overwhelmed or stuck. I remind myself of a simple mantra:
"You only need to be brave for 2 minutes."
At work, we often feel pressure to have all the answers, to be strong and self-reliant at all times. But the truth is, none of us can do it alone.
One of the biggest hurdles to asking for help is the fear of being perceived as incompetent or bothersome.
“I don’t want to bother them”
“This is probably really silly. They will think I’m stupid”
But the truth is, no one starts out as an expert. We're all beginners at some point, and it's okay to give ourselves the time and space to learn and grow.
Whether it's seeking guidance from a mentor, collaborating with coworkers on a challenging project, or simply admitting when we're feeling overwhelmed – just ASK.
I remember confiding in a coworker about my anxiety over "bothering" people with my questions.
Her response was a game-changer:
"You're not being annoying, you're doing your job!"
In fact, asking questions has actually helped build trust and rapport with my colleagues. It showed that I was open to learning and growing, rather than pretending to know everything.
Ask yourself, “what would you think if someone reached out to you for help?”
You’ll realize that you wouldn't really mind. So why assume the opposite for others?
Give yourself those 2 mins and just be BRAVE:
Be courageous enough to reach out when you need support.
Rely on others for guidance and encouragement.
Accept vulnerability and embrace the strength in asking for help.
Value the connections you make and the support they offer.
Endure in the face of fear, knowing that you're not alone.
So the next time you find yourself struggling, think of this story. (I know I will)
Reach out to your colleagues, managers, friends & seek support.
Because just like on that flight to Goa, sometimes the bravest thing you can do is admit that you can't do it alone.
"Be a learn-it-all, not a know-it-all"
BTW, I did finally meet Mohammed Qahtani - "World Championship of Public Speaking (2015)
Catch you on the flip side 👋
- Sonali
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