I Thought I Couldn’t Speak Without Notes… Until I Did

I Thought I Couldn’t Speak Without Notes… Until I Did

If you had asked me a year ago whether I could give a talk without notes, I would have laughed—nervously.

Public speaking has never been something I took lightly. I love words, but only when I can edit them. Polish them. Hide behind a page. The idea of standing in front of an audience, speaking freely, felt overwhelming—like stepping into the unknown without a safety net.

So when I agreed to give a Toastmasters speech about the power of intuition, I was excited—but also terrified. Not because I didn’t believe in the message. But because a small voice in my head said, You can’t do this unless you have every word written down.

That voice sounded logical. Responsible. Even wise.

But here’s what I’ve learned from writing Lost Illusion, the sequel to Choice:

Just because a voice sounds convincing doesn’t mean it’s telling the truth.

Writing Lost Illusion was a journey of uncovering hidden beliefs—especially the ones that hold us back. In the book, Val learns that many of the fears she has about herself are exactly that: illusions. They feel real. They even look real. But with time and support, they can dissolve.

That message didn’t just shape the story. It shaped me.

In preparing for my Toastmasters speech, I realized that my belief about needing notes was one of those illusions. What I really needed wasn’t a script—it was trust. Trust in my own voice. Trust in the message. And trust in the process of practicing (a lot!).

Public speaking is as much about connecting with yourself as it is about connecting with others. When you tune into your intuition, you tap into a deeper source of confidence—a place beyond fear and doubt. This kind of connection allows your message to flow naturally, authentically, and with more impact.

It didn’t happen overnight. I leaned on fellow Toastmasters for encouragement and guidance. I rewrote and practiced and rewrote again.

And then—something shifted.

On the day of the talk, I stood up and delivered my speech without notes. Not because I memorized every line. But because I embodied the story.

The message? That our intuition isn’t something we need to earn or prove. It’s something we learn to trust. And often, the first step is recognizing the stories we’ve been telling ourselves that just aren’t true.

In Lost Illusion, Val faces a similar moment of reckoning. She believes she can’t move forward without certainty—until she realizes that certainty was never the goal. What she really needed was confidence in her own inner compass.

We all carry beliefs about what we can’t do. But many of those beliefs are just echoes of fear, or past experiences, not facts.

Sometimes we think we need perfect conditions to be powerful. But the truth is, power comes from showing up anyway.

Whether you’re a speaker, a writer, a mom, or simply someone navigating the next chapter of your life, I hope you’ll remember this:

✨ You don’t need to know every word in advance.
✨ You don’t need to silence your fear before you begin.
✨ You just need to start.

Because once you do, the illusion begins to fade—and the real you begins to shine.

Thank you to my Toastmasters family for reminding me that growth is possible at every stage of life. And thank you for being on this journey with me.

I can’t wait to share more of Lost Illusion with you soon. (And yes, a sneak peek is coming!)

✨ Haven’t read Choice yet? It introduces the powerful idea of shaping your life through your thoughts. Grab your copy here »