Last year, for Timber Talkers Toastmasters, I served as the VP of Membership. Today, I was elected VP of Education for the coming year.
What stops you from volunteering for a board position in a club or non-profit? I’m sure the reasons are perfectly valid – no time, too busy, don’t understand the commitment, don’t understand the position, unsure, maybe next year.
But I’ll wager that the real reason you hesitate is that there is a physical discomfort you feel when asked to volunteer for something new. Maybe it is a knot in your stomach, a raising of the hairs on your neck, or a worried feeling.
That physical reaction to being asked to do something new is real. It’s the real emotion of discomfort when something new or unexpected comes along. It’s a survival instinct. But that feeling isn’t going to help you survive, it’s a false warning.
The question is – Are you willing to work past the short, physical discomfort in order to participate in an opportunity to grow and give back?
Feeling uncomfortable isn’t something to be feared, it’s just an uncomfortable feeling.
Give Our Time 
So true. I always think of it like when you’re exercising and your muscles are burning, you have to feel the burn in order to get stronger and fitter. Same with negative emotions, just accept them and experience them as opportunities to grow, learn and achieve more than you were before.
That’s a good analogy. There’s a little burn while you get stronger, but it’s a good pain!