Stage fright hits just about anybody who is being called to take center stage and speak in front of a huge crowd. Thus, if you feel like the world is on your shoulders every time the limelight shines on you and demands you to act your best, remember that you are not alone. Stage fright is a common feeling. It happens to the best of us, even the president of the country.
The frustration and nervousness linked with public speaking is hard to imagine by those who have not gone through the experience. Therefore, it is wrong to judge a person and laugh at his or her fear of public speaking if you hadn't been pushed into a similar situation in the past. However, if you had already experienced this, you should also know that the edgy feeling is fleeting and temporary.
People who are conscientious usually feel that they can only perform up to a certain level, when, in fact, they can do so much more. The reason behind this is that there exists a great divide between what and how the person actually is and the concept of an ideal self-image. Because we usually compare anything we do with something so perfect, so ideal, any kind of achievement we reach appears minor and small.
It is this false basis of measurement that reduces the value of any activity, no matter how grand it is. That's why the way we appraise ourselves is based on a comparison of what we have already done and how we have performed in the past, instead of how we can really perform if we tried hard enough.
The pressure that surrounds public speaking engagements is also a challenge to our egos, because we tend to become anticipatory of failure. Truth be told, we are often even nervous about the fact that we will feel nervous when such a situation arises. This is the so-called flight or fight response. We know that it would be very irresponsible to hide from the matter, but we also know that we cannot give the audience what it wants 100%.
Despite these, we should realize that our bodies are ready for the onslaught of nervous feelings. This is normal, so we should seek ways to release the tension through constructive means. If we fail to do so, the greater distress and nervousness we will feel, the worse we will become at public speaking.
When preparing to speak in front of a crowd, think of the situation this way: the worst thing the audience can do to you is say 'boo' and leave. As the
saying goes, what does not kill you only makes you stronger. So, really, you have no reason to fear them. Just get up there, do your thing, and leave. If you adopt this way of thinking, it won't be a surprise when not only will you eliminate your nervousness onstage, you will also have fun basking in all the attention.
Public speaking is not synonymous to being fed to a pack of wolves, though it might seem that way at the start. If you have prepared well and know what you are going to say, you really shouldn't worry about how people will react. You can't please everybody, so you better have this in mind before
you get your anxiety get the best of you. There definitely will be people who will disagree. But, there will also be people who will agree and be willing to listen.
Focus on these types of people and zone out all the negative energy. Stage fright is something that you can overcome. No amount of reading will make it go away. Believe in yourself and get out there - and for crying out loud, kick ass while you're at it.
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