[?] Subscribe To This Site

Do you have a fear of public speaking?

Here are some tips and ideas to overcoming your fear of public speaking.

And you CAN overcome your fears. I guarantee it. I did.

I used to be afraid to answer a question in school. I purposely choose courses where there were no or few presentations just to avoid having to stand in front of my peers and speak. But that was a mistake in itself.

For all I was doing is running from my fears. They didn't disappear. They would just come up somewhere else. They say what you focus on expands. And by running away from your fears you actually run right back into them. Why, because that is all you think about.

Running from your Fears

It's funny, I became a teacher. Something were you need to speak in front of a group everyday. (Talk about irony!)

But it didn't bother me. Why? It became a habit. I made it a habit to face my fear of public speaking (even if it was to children,) everyday.

Stage fright occurs because you are more concerned about yourself than your audience. Focus on the fact that you are there for your audience, to help your listeners and you will begin to forget about being nervous.

Here are some tried and proven tips to overcome your fear of Public Speaking.

Overcoming your Fear of Public Speaking.

Learn how to handle success.
How to face fear.
Overcoming your fear of public speaking.
Make overcoming your fears a habit.

1. Learn How To Handle Success.

Why is this important you may ask. "When I'm successful it feels great." "I don't have any issues with victories."

Maybe you don't, but it is important to train your mind to always, ALWAYS celebrate.

If you make a mistake what do most of us do? We get down on ourselves. We focus on what didn't go right. But in reality, even if we weren't successful at something, it can still be a win. You may have learned something from the experience. Maybe you learned what not to do. Maybe this experience was just what you needed to set you on the path to success.

One failure is usually enough to send most people packing. But what separates those who succeed with those who don't?

Well, Napoleon Hill, Author of Think And Grow Rich interviewed 500 of the most successful and wealthy people in North America and they told him that their biggest success and achievements in life came right AFTER they were completely overwhelmed by failure.

So, practice celebrating.

Here's how to do it.

Whenever you have a success, make a fist with your hand, put it in the air. Then pull it close to your body and say, "Yes!" That's it. Pump your fist and say out loud, "Yes!" Tell yourself that you deserve this success. You earned it. You worked hard for it. Whatever you need to say to convince your mind that it really is a great success. This will help to build your energy until the next success.

So, whatever you do, get in the habit of celebrating all successes.

2. How to face fear.

When facing something fearful do the same thing that you do when you have a success. Our body will remember the success and your energy will come back up. You will not be thinking how scared I am.

So, when you feel a knot in your stomach, or butterflies come flying in, take your hand, make a fist, bring it close to your body and say,
"Yes!" This will bring that feeling of success back into your mind (as long as you are continually doing #1,) help to increase your energy.

3. Overcoming your fear of public speaking.

This is especially good for stage fright.

It is normal to be a little nervous about your presentation. If you're not then you're not normal. But this is how to overcome this anxiety or nervousness.

The way this works is to celebrate your mistakes. If you are feeling butterflies in your stomach. Or you’re nervous, take both hands and thrust them in the air and scream “Yah!” Like you are celebrating. When you think about going on stage and your fear of public speaking comes up. Just celebrate.

What this will do is to anchor your celebration into your mind. Whenever you get nervous you will celebrate.

You are actually learning to love being nervous and taking risks. Eventually, you will love going up on stage because you love being nervous. You will begin to love the feeling of taking risks. (That is presenting to small or large audiences.)

When you are finished your presentation, celebrate. Don’t focus on what didn’t work. Focus on what did work. This will increase your energy and change your mind set.

4. Make overcoming your fears a habit.

Finally, practice overcoming your fears in daily life. Whenever you feel some sort of fear coming up in your mind, (not anything that would put you or someone else in danger just something from everyday life,) just do whatever you were thinking of.

For example, let’s say you see someone you’d really like to ask out on a date, but you feel a knot rising in your stomach. Don’t think about anything, just go and talk to that person.

If you’d like to ask a question during a presentation but think that someone may think your question is stupid, just do it. Ask the question.

Celebrate Public Speaking Eventually, you will train your mind (it will become habit,) that whenever your feel butterflies in your stomach you will just do whatever is causing them. (Nothing dangerous of course.)

Then, not only will you not have any fear of public speaking, but you will actually look for and enjoy speaking to people for the way it makes you feel.

LET'S CELEBRATE!

Return from Fear of Public Speaking to Home Page

footer for fear of public speaking page