By Dr. James B. Chase Jr. EdD

The Law of Polarity teaches that everything has an opposite: hot/cold, high/low, light/dark, good/bad.

Let’s take hot and cold as an example. Hot exists on one end of the spectrum, and cold exists on the other. Everything in between is simply a degree of either hot or cold, depending on which side you're closer to. The same principle applies to high and low—one end is high, the other is low, and anything in between is just a variation along that line.

This principle applies not just to temperature or height, but to our experiences—especially when it comes to failure and success.

We don’t love making mistakes. Why? Often because we fear being corrected or criticized. But if we remember the Law of Relativity, we can take that feedback a little less personally. Criticism is often just someone else’s perspective—it doesn’t define your worth or potential.

And when you first start doing something new—like public speaking—you're going to have some rough patches. That’s normal. That’s part of the spectrum.

But here's the key: instead of labeling a rough speech as a total failure (the far end of the "bad" spectrum), recognize it as just one point on the journey. Learn from what didn’t work. Ask yourself, “What can I do differently next time?” Every step you take like that moves you closer to the success side of the spectrum.

Eleanor Roosevelt said it beautifully:
"I believe anyone can conquer fear by doing the thing he fears to do, provided he keeps doing them until he gets a record of successful experiences behind him."

I can personally vouch for that truth. I started out scared—but over time, that fear gave way to confidence. I learned how to manage it. And so can you.

Keep going. Keep speaking. Each attempt builds your track record—and every step forward is proof that you're moving toward the success you're capable of achieving.

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