I was that guy who knew the answer but kept to himself fearing the humiliation of a wrong answer, only to watch someone else steal the show with the same answer. If that’s you, then you know what I’m talking about.
When I was 15 years old, I had a chance to play Santa on a School christmas function. The whole school was gathered on the ground. My friend and I were supposed to start from the crowd, pass chocolates to the kids and get to the stage and dance for the ‘Jingle bells’.
Routine right? Then came the twist.
As we started dancing for Jingle Bells with the pillow tied to our belly, I started realising that my pants were coming down. Since the Santa’s top was a little longer, I had a few seconds to save the humiliation before the whole school sees the disaster.
Something suddenly kicked in, instead of walking away, I bent and grabbed my falling pants and started dancing comically. The friend beside got confused as I was doing something else than what was rehearsed. The kids, the staffs who trained me for the dance, the whole school found those movements amusing and started cheering. It was 3 minutes of absolute madness.
None of them knew why I did what I did until the whole act was over.
That sudden idea to grab the falling pants and turn the disaster moment into something entertaining, that doesn’t come from staying safe at the fences. It comes from trying different different things and failing tons of times without fearing about humiliation.
Between being the hesitant guy holding back the right answer till that day as a Santa claus,
I have participated in mimicry competition that I resent till today I have fumbled in elocution competition as I had forgotten the script mid way. I have participated in singing competition. Only God knows why I even took that shot. If you had read my ‘Welcome punch’ post, you know what happened in that Karate competition. And many more such events.
And all of these equally contributed to what I did that day and even till what I do to this day.
If you look closely, especially the ones whose humiliation you were worried about, you will realise that they are the weakest and most insecure ones.
Because strong people never talk down on others.
Next time you wanted to try something new and worried about humiliation,
Remember those falling pants :-)