Facing the Fear
Public Speaking! Perennial Winner of the “Top Ten Fears” Poll.
Short of leaving the country, or filling a prescription; is there a way to Vanquish this Fear?
In a word, Yes. But it doesn’t involve turning your back, running away or taking a pill.
First, recognize that fear is a perfectly reasonable response to being told you have to stand and address your peers. There’s considerable risk involved if you mess it up. Ridicule. Laughter. Becoming the butt of a community joke — all can result if you fail to win over the audience by winning — over your fear.
Fear is reasonable. It just isn’t rational. It’s an animal response. Flight! Now! Preferably to a warm climate. Change your name. Disavow your previous life! But the more you run, the more you get caught up inside your head, the worse it becomes.
Turn and face the fear, and the audience! Look directly at them!
True, this is so simple it’s laughable — but it will be the “laughter of release.” Try it!
There is nothing so apparently simple as to stand and look at your audience — but one person at a time. Do it Slowly. Take long enough with each person to notice the color of their eyes, their hair, their signature expression. And the miracle happens… As you slowly become more aware of the audience as individuals, you become correspondingly less afraid. Until you’re not afraid at all. They become aware of you also and the longer you look, the more time slows down until absolutely… nothing… is… happening. You are now PRESENT “in the moment.” This is the “place of pure nothingness” that all performers and speakers aspire to as a prelude to the performance. It’s a spiritual place, with no fear, no noise. It’s a perfect foundation — and from here you can take it anywhere. The audience can’t quite figure out why you are so powerfully commanding. Their tension mounts, until you choose to release it — by beginning. Was that ten years? Or ten seconds.
What’s the secret? Fear is reasonable, but not rational. It lives inside your head. So you should go somewhere else — “out of your head” and into the eyes, minds, hearts and souls of your audience.
There’s no good to be done inside your head. Anyway, you’re probably sharing that real estate with a “crazy person” — just like all of us.
Get “Out of your head!” Look at the audience, then Speak!
Face down your fear as you face the audience.
Now, go tackle your fear of spiders…
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