How to Begin to Overcome Shyness – Positive-Attitude
How to Begin to Overcome Shyness
The one thing that is absolutely vital to overcoming shyness is DESIRE. You must want to, badly.POSITIVE SELF TALKWe must begin to talk to ourselves about ourselves in a more positive way. Instead of defining ourselves negatively we must define ourselves positively.Tell yourself that...* I am equal in dignity to anyone else.* I have a lot to offer other people.* People are not my enemies.* I am intelligent and nice to be with.* I can do anything I put my mind to.* I am loveable and capable just the way I am right now.Many times through the day stop and say something like, "Every day, in every way, I am becoming more comfortable speaking with people."REMEMBER... that every person is a unique gift. There is no other person like you on the planet. There has never been another like you. There will never be another like you. So treat yourself like the rare, unique, precious gift that you are.This is an excerpt from Mike's Special Report "How to Overcome Shyness and Connect with People" ONLY $6.00 http://www.motivationalplus.com/Shynesssalespage.htmlMike Moore is an international speaker and writer on human potential, motivation and humour. You can subscribe to his FREE Lifeline newsletter at http://motivationalplus.com/cgi/a/t.cgi?lifelineMike Moore is an international speaker/ humorist whose articles and cartoons have appeared in publications throughout the world.
Overcome Your Fear of Public Speaking – Public-Speaking
Overcome Your Fear of Public Speaking
Knocking knees, butterflies (who came up with that word?) in your stomach, sweaty palms, quavering voice. We've all been there ? some of us more than others. I'm going to share with you some of the tricks of the trade to help manage and reduce your anxiety before and during your presentation. These methods are tried and true and have helped many presenters.The first time is always the worst and it gets better from there.In 1991, I gave my first presentation to a large audience. My audience was 150 fifth and six grade students in an outside courtyard of an elementary school. I was scheduled to give a 35-minute student assembly that explained a collection of international artifacts (masks, musical instruments, hats, and other interesting items). It was a program designed to increase multicultural understanding. I was so fired up about the topic, and thought that it was such an important subject that I thought I could deliver the program.Well, of course everything went wrong! The wind picked up and knocked some of the items off the display table (the kids thought this was funny, I didn't). The microphone had that horrible screeching feedback. My knees shook the whole time, my voice quavered, my heart pounded ? and I felt like it was going on forever. I got through my content somehow and looked at my watch. I gave a 35-minute presentation in 15-minutes! I think that I probably forgot to breathe.After packing up my items and loading them in my car, I collapsed in the driver's seat. When my heart starting beating normally, I had a realization. My realization was that I did deliver the program, yes?terribly, but I did finish it and it would probably never again be that bad. From that point on, I learned something from every program I gave; how to keep the audience engaged, how to test AV equipment BEFORE I started, how to breathe normally and speak at the same time. The list goes on and on. In three years, I delivered this program to more than 100,000 students and teachers.Today, I help adults develop the skills of public speaking. It seems that everyone has some degree of nervousness or anxiety. What I know is that you can live through those feelings and that over time they get easier and easier to deal with. Give these strategies a try and see if they will help you too.How about having a conversation?Use your mental energy to think of your next presentation as a conversation. You have conversations all day, every day! Do you get nervous before a conversation? Most conversations are non-threatening experiences, just a way for two or more people to communicate something. How is a presentation different than that? Try to think of your presentation as a conversation, just with a few more people. See if that eases your mind and nerves.Make some new friends in the audience.Most people are nervous in front of an audience of strangers. What would happen if you had a friend in the audience, or a group of friends? Would you feel more comfortable? Next time you have to give a presentation to a group you don't know ? do something revolutionary! Introduce yourself, shake hands, and greet as many of the audience as possible before your talk begins. That way, when you're standing in the front of the room looking out, it is no longer a sea of strangers, but a friendly group, because you met some of the people first. You'll want to find them in the audience and make eye contact, and it won't be too hard, because they'll probably be smiling at you.Put yourself in your audience's shoes for a moment. Imagine that you are attending a special seminar at work. How would you feel if before the seminar, the speaker took a moment to introduce herself to you? Would you be a more receptive listener to what she had to say? I bet your answer is yes!How about smiling?Smiling has a physiological affect on us ? it helps to calm our nerves and make us feel better. It also has the added bonus of making us appear more pleasant, comfortable and happy ? definite positive characteristics of a presenter. Often times, the audience will mirror the expression of the presenter. So guess what happens when you smile? You got it; your audience will be more likely to smile back at you.Let's review.You've just learned some simple, yet effective, techniques to help reduce and manage nervousness while giving a presentation. I challenge you to try them out and see if they work for you.Remember to:1. Have a conversation with your audience.2. Make some new friends before your presentation.3. SMILE! It just might prove infectious and make you feel a whole lot more at ease!4. Learn from every presentation you give and you'll see that it does get easier and easier.About The AuthorDana is the author of the interactive manual Overcome Your Fear of Public Speaking. Please visit her website http://www.speakforsuccess.netDana Bristol-Smith is the founder of Speak for Success, an organization that works with companies that want their people to communicate with confidence and credibility. Companies hire Dana to give skill-building workshops and to provide coaching. She has delivered presentations and training to more than 100,000 people since 1992.You can reach Dana via email at mail to: dana@speakforsuccess.net
Overcome Writers Block with Snake Dancing
Overcome Writers Block with Snake Dancing
Writer's block! Even columnist Dave Berry has it. He admits that at least 30 times a day when writing his humor column, he gets up from his computer to sip his Pepsi to divert his attention when he can't think of what to write. Recently, he reached for the cola and instead found a coiled snake. He tried barbecue tongs to carry it away, but when it landed in his pool, he kept the dance going trying to catch the thing.
As a writer you may think you are blocked because you think your book may not be significant enough, you don't know how to format it, or since you aren't famous, your book won't sell. Or, like Dave you can't think of something great to say.
Let the book coach encourage you beyond your doubts. Know that your book is unique and offers useful solutions to help your audience solve their challenge or problem. You don't have to write like others, and yes, you can write a saleable book.
What is Writer's Block?
To me it's just that I'm distracted and don't seem organized enough with what's important to write for my particular audience. It's a signal that my brain won't focus temporarily. Like Dave Berry, I need a break.
To some of you, it's like stepping off a cliff and plunging into the abyss. You don't have all the answers to start, so it becomes overwhelming to even put words to paper..
Why do we have Writer's Block?
1. We have too many ideas/ choices. We need to focus on one thing at a time. Write down 3-4 topics you are passionate about. Take some deep breaths, and let the #1 come forth. Write on one book primarily, and just put new ideas into the others' folder. Stay with your #1 book until you finish it. When we don't finish a project, we feel guilty--and hence more stuck!
2. Fear. Really, "False Evidence Appearing Real." Our performance anxiety keeps us from taking that next step. However, we can get direction and skills from a how-to book on writing or a qualified book coach if we are willing.
3.