Then again, maybe singing flat is one of the ways we hold ourselves back... like nervousness and shyness are ways we hide our full capacity. If we subconciously feel that we couldn't/shouldn't be "good enough" it is natural to sing flat as we hold our selves back... or, down in this case... and there is that feeling of being exposed or more or less naked... Really though, the only way is to step through all this nonsence and go for it! Do something you love, and give it all you've got. ...and to heck with the crabby critics. ;^)