If you’re a public speaker you’ve experienced nervousness. And for some presenters the mere thought of speaking can cause anxiety. Anxiety or fear begins in the mind but it also settles in the body.
The question is How does fear show up for you? There are four basic fear reactions as shared by Lorianne Reeves. You can remember them as the 4 Fs.
The first F is Fight. The inclination is to want to attack when you’re in a state of fear. It can manifest in the body as clenched fists and the desire to attack physically or verbally. When somebody starts yelling at you it could be that they’re feeling fear. The body can stiffen in response to anxiety. The remedy is to roll your shoulders back. Rotate them one at a time to relax the body.
The second F is Flee. Some people believe that the definition of FEAR is Forget Everything and Run.
When this is your response to fear you can see it first in the eyes. The eyes will dart or look away. The body will turn away and is some cases, you may actually leave the room. The remedy is to ground the body. Stand and place your feet shoulder width apart and dig in. If you’re seated, ground your feet on the floor and push your feet into the floor with pressure.
The third F is Faint. You may have a woozy feeling when you encounter fear. If this is your reaction, try scooping love to yourself. Take each arm one at a time and bring it into your chest as if you’re giving yourself a half hug with each arm.
The fourth F is Freeze. Like a deer in the headlights, some people freeze in place. They lose their train-of-thought and may not be able to speak up. The remedy is to unfreeze yourself by moving your fingers and /or wiggling your toes. The purpose is to get the energy moving to unfreeze the body and create momentum. There is a mind body connection. Moving the body can help you to think.
When fear of public speaking rears its ugly head, you may discover that your body defaults to one of these four reactions. The good news is that you don’t have to let fear overtake you. Use these tips to recognize what’s happening in the moment and adopt these fear melting techniques. And know that the definition of FEAR is Face Everything and Rise.
For more fear busting techniques read chapter 3, Fear Fixes, in Knockout Presentations and hire me to coach you from fear to confidence.
Visit me at DiResta Communications, Inc.