Afraid of Speaking in Public? Give a Eulogy

Does the thought of making a presentation or speaking in front of others nauseate you?

Many people suffer from this affliction and their careers also suffer because of it. After all, who wants a CEO who is afraid to speak to his shareholders?

So, what to do?

When my dad passed away a few years ago (well several years ago now) I had the honour of delivering the eulogy. Now, as a professional speaker this was no big deal but it hurt to watch my sister who does not like to speak in public (no problem privately LOL) could not bring herself to say anything. She is one of the most caring people I know and it was painful to watch her through the process. Her fear of speaking stopped her from sharing that precious moment.

Here is the thing about giving a eulogy. It is a safe environment.

You are speaking about someone whom you loved or respected, admired, or who mentored you. Who in the group could criticize your good intentions of speaking from your heart? If they did, who will look worse you, or the one making the comment?

 It is a safe environment.

That is the point, we can all speak about a subject we are passionate about whether it is a eulogy about a loved one, a hobby like gardening, children or grandchildren, a favourite vacation, there are lots of topics you have in your mind already.

The secret is the safe environment.

If you are a church goer, offer to read scripture.

Now this is a funny one. I used to get nervous when I read scripture at church! Yup, a professional speaker and I would shake like a leaf. My knees would rattle, my voice would quiver; I was a wreck.

Then one Sunday it hit me, if I can’t expect mercy from this group because I mess up a word or two (have you seen some of the names of the tribes in the old testament?) then perhaps it is time for a new church.

It is a safe environment.

So here they are; two keys really to speaking in public...

Speak about something you are passionate about.

Speak in a safe environment.

You are not in grade seven anymore having to memorize a speech and say it in front of a heartless crowd, you are an adult who is successful in all areas of your life and want to overcome this hurdle.

Go for it!

Fear

As I sit at the computer this morning trying to come up with something profound for our newsletters, it hit me that my procrastination is usually based on fear.

The fear that someone will be offended by what I write, the fear that it won't be "deep" enough or it may be too deep...

Fear, what is it? I have heard it described as an acronym, False Evidence Appearing Real. However those of us who have experienced fear know sometimes it is real. But only less than 40% of the time according to the University of Michigan.

So why do we have these fears? Newborns, they say, have only two fears, loud noises and the fear of being dropped. So what do we do? We smack their bottom with a loud sound after they fall into the hands of the doctor! Doomed from the start are we...

Perhaps during this season as a child, you had the fear of Santa. Watching the movie A Christmas Story last night on the children's visit to the store Santa and seeing it through the eyes of a child makes me wonder if perhaps this is the root of all that fear!

It is not just you and me who have fears, famous people have them too. Julius Caesar was afraid of thunder (and I think later knives), Peter the Great, was afraid of bridges. He was the absolute ruler of Russia and stood 6 feet five inches tall! Barb is in good company for she too once feared bridges...

Have you examined your fears? Perhaps it is time to take an inventory, I am not a big fan of spiders. Sadly my daughters picked up on that fear and now share it with me. I guess it is true, misery likes company.

Why not make a list of your fears and start working on overcoming them. It is said that fear causes procrastination so if you find yourself hesitating on this little project perhaps there is a fear there?

Here is what the pattern can become in some peoples lives from John Maxwell.


Fear breeds inaction;
Inaction leads to lack of experience;
Lack of experience fosters ignorance; and
Ignorance breeds fear.

See the cycle? Break it!


www.dynamics4u.com

Home away from home

When you travel as much as we do, about the last thing we look forward to is another sterile, generic, hotel room. Over the past few years we have experienced some wonderful B&B's. What a refreshing way to spend an evening, and what beautiful surroundings.
Often the other guests are fascinating too! Last time we stayed here there was a judge who shared breakfast with us. Some great conversation happened over warm croissants.
Truly great hosts at this establishment as they remembered us from our visit two years ago, right down to what I take in my coffee. Now theta is customer service. Not like the fancy hotel and cookie blog from earlier.
The message for today's blog is make the best of travel. Don't just opt for another bland hotel room, go for something unique and make it your home away from home.
I have included a picture of Viewfield in Walkerton.