| Don't be ashamed of your fear of public speaking. It | | | | everything is going to be just fine". |
| is reported to be one of the most significant fears | | | | Focus on your breathing, this is so helpful. Be sure to |
| for many of the most talented and accomplished | | | | pause between sentences, and talk slowly - this will |
| American adults - -so you are not alone. This is often | | | | help you enormously. Try simple breathing techniques |
| due to a need for approval of others or concern | | | | and make sure hat you are breathing from your |
| about being judged or criticized. Many of us suffer | | | | diaphragm. A great exercise is to breathe in for 3 |
| from anxiety at some point in our lives but for some | | | | counts, hold it for 3 counts, and breathe out for 6 |
| it is more easily triggered and the instinctive reaction | | | | counts. Repeat this 4 times, then really fill your lungs |
| of 'fight or flight' is very hard to ignore. | | | | and release, letting the breath leave you without any |
| It is important to be kind to yourself, try not to feel | | | | effort. |
| disappointed or frustrated and focus on accepting | | | | One of the most positive things you can do to |
| and understanding the origins of your fear. Try to | | | | counteract nerves about public speaking is to focus |
| stay positive and work slowly towards speaking in | | | | on the needs of your audience. Approach your |
| front of others. | | | | performance with an altruistic perspective. Your |
| It may help you to have an inner dialogue. Often we | | | | speech could make a difference to the lives of your |
| may have a negative inner dialogue, with an inner | | | | audience and it should always be your aim to serve |
| voice telling us that we 'can't do it' or that 'people will | | | | them, therefore taking the emphasis away from your |
| think I'm foolish' etc. Replace this with "These feelings | | | | own feelings. |
| cannot hurt me, nothing terrible is going to happen, | | | | |