heart to heart
A Personal Victory
From Fear to Courage
Public speaking once terrified me. In college, I found every possible excuse to avoid giving a speech. Later, during workplace meetings, I struggled to keep my voice steady and my nerves under control.
A trusted friend encouraged me to try Toastmasters, which helped - but the real turning point came when Mayo Clinic’s Chief Nursing Officer invited me to become a HeartMath® trainer. At first, I was skeptical that a few practical techniques could truly change how I experienced stress. I soon discovered just how powerful they could be.
Today, I’m a HeartMath® Certified Senior Trainer, Coach and Mentor. I may still feel a few butterflies before speaking, but now I know how to transform that nervous energy into focus, enthusiasm, and connection.
In 2016, I decided to test that growth in a wonderfully unexpected way: I auditioned for Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? Three weeks later, my family, a friend, and I were on our way to Las Vegas to tape the show. My episodes aired January 18–19, 2017.
Did I win a million dollars? Let’s just say the questions seemed much easier from my couch! But I walked away feeling like a million dollars because I had faced one of my greatest fears.
That experience reminded me that courage does not require the absence of fear. Sometimes courage is simply taking the next step while fear comes along for the ride.
If something is holding you back, you don’t have to navigate it alone. With supportive practices and compassionate guidance, you can build resilience, reconnect with your courage, and move forward with greater confidence.
READY TO TAKE YOUR NEXT STEP?
Photos from Barbara’s 2017 appearance on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?
Photos credit: MillionaireWanted38 (YouTube)
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