One of the more common fears that people have is the fear of public speaking. I was once one of those people and after years of struggling with this fear, I finally found a way to overcome it.
My Fear of Public Speaking
I used to be afraid of public speaking. I would avoid any situation where I had to talk in front of a group of people. But then I faced my fear head-on and overcame it.
It wasn’t easy, but it was worth it. Now, I enjoy public speaking and get a thrill out of it. If you’re afraid of public speaking, here’s how I faced and overcame my fear.
- Recognize your fear. The first step is to acknowledge that you’re afraid of public speaking. Once you recognize your fear, you can start to deal with it.
- Understand your fear. What is it about public speaking that scares you? Is it the thought of getting up in front of a group of people? Is it the fear of saying something wrong? Or is it the worry that you’ll be judged?
- Face your fear. Once you understand your fear, it’s time to face it head-on. The best way to do this is to put yourself in situations where you have to speak in front of people. Start small, such as giving a presentation to your co-workers or leading a discussion in a class. Then work your way up to public speaking situations.4. Overcome your fear. Once you are able to face your fear of public speaking, it’s time to conquer it. Use the techniques outlined in part one and three, as well as some of your own ideas (which may include hypnosis).5. Stick with it. Eventually you’ll overcome your fear of public speaking. Not only will you be able to give great presentations, but you will also have a good sense of accomplishment knowing that you faced your worst fear and conquered it.
The Journey to Overcome my Fear
I remember the first time I ever had to give a speech in public. I was in fifth grade and my teacher tasked me with giving a presentation on the solar system. I can still recall the feeling of dread that washed over me as soon as she announced the assignment. I was petrified at the thought of standing up in front of my classmates and speaking.
The days leading up to my presentation were filled with anxiety. I practiced my speech over and over again, but no matter how many times I went through it, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was going to make a fool of myself. On the day of the presentation, my heart was pounding so hard I thought it was going to jump out of my chest. My palms were sweating so profusely that I had to keep wiping them on my pants. When it was finally my turn to stand up in front of the class, I felt like all the blood had drained from my body. My knees were shaking so badly that I was sure everyone could see how scared I was.
Somehow, I managed to get through the presentation without passing out or running away screaming. As soon as it was over, I breathed a huge sigh of relief .
Today, I am a college physics major and my parents are proud of me. They both work hard to make sure that I do well in school. The fact is that they don’t have to worry about me because they know that all they have to do is let me have fun in school and then remind me that it actually is important to learn. When I was younger, my parents were the ones who helped prepare me for the day when I would be alone at school. In preparing me for the big presentation day, they taught me how to create a plan for what I was going to say and what was most important about each topic. Although I won’t be able to speak before an entire class as my parents did when they were in school, I still need to prepare a speech on each subject so that I won’t forget what I am supposed to say.
Picking a topic for my speech is the most difficult part. It’s all about figuring out what things mean and how they are important to different types of people. For instance, if my mom is sitting in the audience, she will be listening to me talk about kindergarten because she was one when she was my age. If this particular topic doesn’t relate directly to her at all, it’s useless for me to speak about it. On the other hand, if I’m speaking in front of my friends from school who are all juniors like me, then certain topics matter more than others. In that case
Helpful Strategies that I Used
When I was younger, I was always afraid of public speaking. It was something that I never felt comfortable doing, and I would always get extremely nervous when I had to do it. However, as I got older and started to do more public speaking, I realized that it wasn’t as bad as I thought it was. In fact, I actually started to enjoy it! If you’re someone who is afraid of public speaking, here are a few helpful strategies that I used to overcome my fear:
- Practice, practice, practice! The more you do it, the easier it will become.
- Visualize yourself doing it well. See yourself as a confident and competent speaker.
- Breathe deeply and slowly to help calm your nerves.
- Focus on the positive aspects of public speaking, such as the opportunity to share your message with others and connect with them.
- Remember that everyone is human and that everyone makes mistakes – you’re not alone!
If you use these strategies, you’ll be on your way to becoming a confident public speaker in no time!
Resources and Books that Helped Me
When I first started facing my fear of public speaking, I read a lot of articles and blogs about other people’s experiences. This was helpful in understanding that I wasn’t alone in feeling nervous about speaking in front of groups. I also found some great resources and books that helped me start to overcome my fear.
One book that was particularly helpful is ‘The Confident Speaker’ by Bethany Caudill. This book is full of practical advice on how to start becoming a more confident speaker. It covers everything from basic tips on posture and breath control, to more advanced techniques for dealing with nerves and delivering engaging speeches.
Another great resource is the website Toastmasters International. This organization offers a supportive environment where you can practice your public speaking skills. There are also many helpful resources on the website, including articles, videos, and tips from successful speakers.
If you’re looking for more general advice on overcoming your fear of public speaking, there are plenty of great blog posts out there from people who have been through it themselves. Do a search on Google or your favorite search engine, and you’ll find tons of useful information.
Practicing the Presentation in different Venues
When I was in high school, I had to do a presentation in front of the entire school. Just thinking about it made my heart race and my hands shake. I knew I had to face my fear and practice my presentation in different venues, so I did.
I started by practicing in front of my family. This was the easiest audience for me because I knew they loved me and would support me no matter what happened. But it still wasn’t easy. Every time I got up to speak, my heart would race and my palms would sweat. But I kept at it, and eventually it got easier.
Then I moved on to practicing in front of friends. This was a little bit harder because I wanted to make sure they liked me and thought I was cool. But again, I kept at it and eventually got more comfortable.
Finally, I practiced in front of strangers. This was the hardest for me, but also the most important. I wanted to make sure that I could do it in front of anyone, no matter how uncomfortable I felt.
Practicing in different venues helped me slowly but surely overcome my fear of public speaking. It gave me the confidence to know that I could do it.
The hardest part was not the actual speaking, but my initial reaction of panic and embarrassment. I’d rather be back home with my dog in front of a professional speaker than on stage in front of strangers and non-speaking attendees. But this is the only way I’m going to feel comfortable enough to be successful at my new job and project. So I kept at it until I was over my fear, learned how to control myself, and found the confidence that will help me meet expectations from both myself and others.
So, What Can You Do?
If you’re like most people, you also have some kind of fear about public speaking or performing for an audience. It doesn’t matter if you ‘re the president of your country, or the CEO of your company. If you feel that way, I want to share with you a four-step plan that can help you:
1. Identify. Write down all of your fears, concerns, and self-doubts in a single notebook or journal. You may be surprised by how many things come up when you start this process.
2. Cleanse yourself and focus on what’s really important to you at this stage of life. Meditate, take walks in nature, eat well and close down unnecessary social media accounts.
3. Learn how to control yourself . Every time I tried to talk on stage before I started learning the art of public speaking was a disaster for me from my audience ‘s feedback to my own internal negative thoughts. The best way to learn public speaking is through trial and error rather than by trying to emulate your idol.
4. Own your life and create more control in your life. Don’t wait for someone else to fix what’s wrong with you. Start living the life that you want to live!
Conclusion
Facing my fear of public speaking was one of the best things I’ve ever done. It’s given me a confidence boost that I never knew I needed and has helped me become a better communicator overall. If you’re struggling with your own fear of public speaking, know that you’re not alone — but also know that it’s something you can overcome with time and practice. The next time you have to speak in front of a group, take a deep breath and remember that you’re capable of great things.
