The truth is that when there is a scary situation, you tell yourself, “I can overcome this fear” repetitively to calm your anxiety. But it’s eating you inside out, so you become even more distressed. You are lying to yourself.
Researches experimented on an idea at Atava University. They collected people who were afraid of being in the crowd, separated them into two groups randomly.
The first group must tell themselves that they are strong and they can overcome this situation.
The second group must accept their fear and nervousness. They said I know I fear it, but I will go forward and do great!
The result showed that the second group did better than the other one. The second group wasn’t hopeless, but they accepted their fear.
Calm your anxiety by accepting it and going forward.
Generally, false inspiration is deleting the question instead of finding an answer for it. The right way is to accept your fear first and then believe in handling it on your own.
For public speaking, you have to put your effort into your performance, not your stress. Don’t let the false suggestions and inspirations which are not scientific pierce your mind and damage it.
Let me tell you a story.
Once I had an important presentation. The situation was delicate and unique! In the beginning, a video introduced me, and the show runner called my name to go up on the stage. It was a program on TV!
The show runner called my name in front of masters and managers who were twice my age, more experienced and the wealthiest managers and leaders of our country. He said: I want to call a billionaire young man to you!” well, this introduction made it harder.
I was pretty stressed, and the audience was confused and looking for this young billionaire.
I took a deep breath, put my hand on my chest and heart and told myself: “you’re doing something big here. Of course, it’s scary and stressful. But you must do it great!”
You can calm your anxiety of public speaking when you accept it.
I went up on the stage. I saw my fear, accepted it and tried so hard to manage it. And I had an excellent performance.
Anxiety and fear of doing something don’t disappear into thin air, but they grow and become worse. Notice your concerns and let go of them.
The point is you can never be not-afraid of public speaking. It gets easier by the time. I was the same. In my first presentations, I had the same fear, but after several classes and courses, it got easier. Then sessions with 70 students became challenging and then with more audience and more audience.
The first time I had an English presentation, my heart was jumping out of my chest. But I got over it by accepting it and trying to overcome it.
So do not forget these two points:
1- Do not pay attention to the wrong inspiration with no scientific bases.
2- Accept your fear, try to ignore it and focus on your performance.
If you want to know more about ways to overcome your fear of public speaking, read:
