When I was a teenager, I was TERRIBLE at public speaking, so I took a class. Here's what happened…

I was a Freshman at Case Western University, where I attended the Cleveland Institute of Music. I was 16.

My first day in the class worked out fine, as the professor explained some concepts and gave us a homework assignment to memorize a poem, which we would then recite from memory in the second class.

“No problem,” I thought. After all, I was really good at memorizing music, and I’d memorized poems before, without much trouble.

But I was really, REALLY nervous about performing it in public.

After all, I was the shy kid who couldn't really connect with other kids, had a lot of social anxiety, HATED radio and newspaper interviews, and was terrified to speak on the phone. My mother did a lot of my speaking for me.

As a musician, whenever I was asked to speak from the stage, I absolutely refused. No way. Somebody else could do it, but NOT ME. You couldn't have paid me enough!

When I received an award from TIME Magazine at age 19, I had to give an acceptance speech in New York City. I basically said, “Thank you very much, I'm not good at speaking, let my music express my gratitude, goodbye!” as they played my violin music in the background!

I knew this was a skill I needed to get better at, so I took the class and worked hard at that poem, practiced it over and over, rehearsed in front of a friend, and generally made SURE it would go well.

Well… it didn’t.

I managed to remember the first line – maybe the first two – and then…

BLANK.

TOTAL BLANK.

NO RECOVERY.

DONE. That was it – I couldn’t remember ANYTHING after that, and I had to slink back to my seat, MORTIFIED.

What did I do after that, you wonder?

Well, I wish I could say that I persevered, stuck with the class, got over my embarrassment and healed my terror of public speaking… and learned how to shine and express myself freely through my words…

But I didn’t.

Instead, I quit as fast as I could.

I dropped the class and never went back!

Fast forward a couple decades…

…to my ex-husband’s celebratory 60th birthday concert at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music some years ago.

We were on the cusp of divorce (after nearly 25 years of marriage) and things were NOT easy between us. But I wanted to express my appreciation and admiration for him as a person and as a composer in public.

So, before I performed the piece he’d composed for me (“Songs of the Infinite” – my recording is on YouTube, btw), I walked to the front of the stage.

I was barefoot, the way I LOVE to perform when it feels right, and I was wearing a gorgeous, black silk dress with colorful birds all over it… and I felt good.

I walked as close to the audience as I could and opened up my heart to everyone present. I spoke spontaneously, with feeling, vulnerability, warmth and huge appreciation, telling the audience how great my husband was, and how great his music is… and it was EASY for me.

In fact, that performance – the speaking and the music – turned into one of the biggest personal crowning achievements of my entire life.

The circumstances couldn't have been much more difficult. The day before, I was feeling so horrible and I had NO idea how I'd get through that concert, given my emotional state due to our relationship difficulties. I almost pulled out of the concert.

But I didn't. I rose to the challenge and I shone as brilliantly as ever. Something inspired me, and I let it happen. I will never forget it… it was so healing for me as I made the conscious decision to put fear and ego aside, put Love first, and act on my principles.

I haven't always been able to do that, to say the least.

You may wonder how I got to that point, having been so shy many years earlier.

Well, I went through a lot of difficulties and learned more about how to truly BE MYSELF, let go, and dare to shine. Something I could do pretty naturally through my music, but not through the rest of me.

I took a 3-year teacher training in the Alexander Technique, and 8+ years of additional training in Primal Alexander™… and eventually created my own system based on those (and more), called The Art of Freedom® Method for conscious living and masterful artistry.

By the time I stood on that stage for my husband's concert, I'd gone through so much, done so much soul-searching, and risen above so much… and I'd learned so much through all of it.

I now understood firsthand that authentic self-expression – in mind, body, and spirit – is THE way to connect with an audience and make a positive difference in the world.

Our world today is simply dying for authentic connection, and REAL heartfelt, compassionate artistry.

In short, I’ve changed tremendously – from refusing to speak on the phone as a kid to making spontaneous unscripted live videos on social media whenever I feel inspired.

I've recorded more than 20 podcast interviews this year alone, and loved every minute.

What has caused this huge transformation in me?

Remembering my PURPOSE. Integrating my MIND, BODY, and SPIRIT. And learning how to get out of my own way to allow the Truth to flow through me as far as I’m able, with flowing ARTISTRY.

These are the five Life-Pillars of The Art of Freedom®.

I do my best to practice what I preach, and self-mastery and authentic self-expression is one of the things I love to teach the most.

If you’re an artist who has really strong feelings and important things that you’d like to be able to share with the world, and you just wish people would listen and understand what you feel so deeply to be TRUE in the depths of your heart, then trust me – WE NEED YOU.

I would love to help you rise above fear, get out of your own way, and learn how to gently ease into sharing yourself with more freedom, ease, and meaningful vulnerability, from your heart to the hearts of those around you.

It’s scary at first. You might quit and give up, like I did.

Maybe you already have, and maybe you think that expressing yourself freely with calm confidence, with the power to move yourself and others through the energy that comes from honest connection and Grace, is just not available to you.

My mission is to challenge you to open up to All-Possibility.

I’ve personally experienced the “impossible” becoming “possible” and then becoming a REALITY in my own life – many, many times – and I’ve been able to teach hundreds of creatives (musicians and more) how to do this, too.

Don't suffer silently, with the great music of your soul stuck inside, dying to be expressed; get in touch with me, instead.

Anything is possible!

I encourage you to feel hopeful and reach out to find out more about HOW all of this might be possible for you, too.

I look forward to having an interesting, relaxed conversation with you about how you can learn to let your Light shine out with more ease and joy, and LOVE, too – through your voice, your words, your music, your art… your whole Creative Being!

Joyfully,

Jennifer

p.s. The world needs creative, thoughtful, compassionate people like you to speak up. To share the Truth, the Light, and the JOY that is inside of you – dying to be released. Send me a message if you feel like you can’t do it and you need some support and a breakthrough… and I’ll show you that maybe you CAN.

After all, if I could learn how to do it, you can, too. Why not you?! 🙂

Performing ‘Songs of the Infinite', by Miguel A. Roig-Francolí at CCM