What are the biggest barriers to happiness in the West? Although I haven’t done an in-depth analysis, I believe different types of anxiety are high on the list. They stem from worries about the past, the future of one’s family or career, as well as fear. We need to decrease anxiety levels if we are going to increase happiness. Let’s start by looking at the root causes for public speaking anxiety.
- Beliefs that public speaking is stressful
This is a selffulfilling prophecy. Public speaking can be stressful. It is important that we understand that our mind is messing with us. Public speaking is not inherently stressful. When you were a child, speaking in public was a natural instinct. It is only later in life that this fear develops, and it is something we all consider an essential part when speaking publicly. Don’t forget that many people have successfully managed their fear of public speaking. Do not be afraid to speak in public.
This is a very negative, reinforcing result of our belief in the stress of speaking in public. We begin to fear fearing the fear. This leads to a spiral that causes high anxiety and fear. What can we do about this vicious cycle? Here are some suggestions:
Don’t be stressed if you speak in public. (See Section 1. )
Do not fight fear
If placing pressure on our self increases anxiety, then why do we do this? Three reasons are apparent:
3.1. Thinking “It’s All About Me”
To simplify it, it’s NOT about you. It’s all about bringing value to your audience. This is mainly through teaching the audience something they don’t know. Instead of focusing your attention on yourself, you should focus on the audience, and in particular the message that is being conveyed. This is what the audiences care about, not yours.
3.2. Belief that to succeed, you have to be brilliant or perfect
You don’t have to be an expert or brilliant to succeed. Your goal is to just add a little value to the people you serve. If you can deliver a couple key messages that are unique and interesting to the audience you’ve succeeded. Don’t think that perfection is required to succeed. Perfectionism will drive you insane. In many ways, the belief that perfection is necessary can be manifested in many ways.
- Belief that mistakes are impossible
- The belief that you have the responsibility to provide every detail for your audience
- The belief that everyone must agree
3.3. You Believe That You Are The Only One With This Problem
It can be difficult to believe that you are the only one who has public speaking anxiety. You might mistakenly believe that everyone else has succeeded and you are the only one who can’t overcome this problem. However, this is false. Public speaking anxiety has been identified as the number one fear.
If you put pressure on yourself, you might try to imitate others who are successful or your abstract and vague idea about how a public speaker should act. This could lead to you pretending to someone you’re not.
Unfortunately, this:
Anxiety levels also rise
Does it feel unauthentic or uncomfortable?
It is easy to distract from the message you wish to send.
Is spotted by the public in about 99% of the time
Tell the audience what you think and be authentic. Your listeners will appreciate it.
This is a complicated one. Preparation is important, isn’t it?
According to my experience preparation is important to the extent it adds value (e.g. Preparation will enable you to communicate information clearly and highlight any inconsistencies. Preparing for a presentation is best done on your own, with the audience watching you. You may also want to videotape yourself or have feedback from friends.
A message is the key to your discomfort, and you won’t feel like a politician unless you have one. If you don’t have a message, it can be very difficult to face hundreds of curious eyes. It’s important to ensure that you communicate well-thought messages.
Sometimes imagination and creativity can lead to problems. There are many unrealistic and outlandish thoughts when it comes to speaking in public. What if exhaustion makes me feel dizzy? What if my thoughts are shattered and I’m left speechless?
The question is how do we avoid becoming insane?
Remind yourself that you are not alone in your fears.
You can use this mindset to your advantage.
Do NLP exercises
Neuro-linguistic program (NLP), is an interesting way to modify our learned perceptions.
Another key point is how we relate to our audience. Your audience is your enemy. This is almost never a good idea. You will feel pressure to succeed. Your audience wants to see you succeed and provide the information they need. Although a slip of tongue or any type of mistake might seem significant to you, it’s not important for the audience. Your listeners want to learn new things.
There are several methods you can gain practice.
Toastmasters
Look for public speaking opportunities
You can start slowly if you need, but get started!
Dealing with Public Speaking Anxiety
The above-mentioned approaches attempt to resolve the root causes of your problem. It is important for a long-term solution. But, it is possible to treat symptoms quickly.5
Deep breathing and relaxation techniques for learning
Do some exercise before the event
Avoid caffeine
Relaxing food and drink are recommended
Find other ways to relax.
Here are some key points to remember:
- Speaking in public is not necessarily stressful.
- Fear should not be fearful Don’t fight against it.
- Do not place pressure on yourself to achieve success
It’s about you.
– To succeed, you don’t necessarily have to be perfect.
You’re not the only one experiencing this problem.
