Using EFT to Breathe Better and Eliminate Fear of Public Speaking

I read somewhere that when people were more physically active-- walking more, choosing more active lifestyles-- generally their breathing was better, and that since the advent of the Internet, many of us only use a small portion of our breathing apparatus... as a result, we "lose" capacity to breathe fully. Have you noticed that?

Take a look at this video that looks at breathing using Emotional Freedom Technique, a way of unblocking areas where energy is stuck. Full breathing is so wonderful in expelling stress.

Vocal Warm-ups that Actors Use-- Great for Public Speaking

When I was in school and college I did a fair amount of acting and am so very happy that I have a recollection of some of the vocal warm-ups when I need to do a bit of the old public speaking. Vocal warm-ups are so helpful in releasing tensions from your throat and face. If you have a tight throat or even a tense tongue(!) it can result in a very unattractive tone of voice-- something akin to strangulation. Watch this little clip to get a good idea of some things that can be done to warm up your vocal apparatus!

What if You Are Shy? Does Toastmasters Work?

I am naturally a fairly reserved person-- quite introverted (meaning, my expert friend told me, that I have lots of internal stuff going on and too much external stuff coming in can be 'overload')and I think I could describe myself as "shy" in many situations. As I have gotten older, I find that it is becoming easier to let go of some of the "false" personality traits, such as a kind of forced gregariousness that I used to wear at parties in my youth. My mother was a 'talker'-- in fact, she was one of those people who could talk non-stop for hours. I am not. I like a good conversation, but mostly I enjoy listening. However, many times in my life it has been important for me to summon up my confidence and get up and speak in front of others. Doing some acting at school was helpful (I was told I was quite good, which built my confidence) but as a middle-aged adult, joining Toastmasters and using the energy psychology or meridian tapping technique called Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) was VERY helpful in allowing me to present in front of groups (or even just to 'speak up' in group situations about things I felt strongly about). The video clip that follows shows EFT Master Sandy Radomski talking about how even she had to overcome a fear of public speaking.

Getting a Voice and Feeling Acceptance with EFT

In one of my Toastmasters' meetings there was a fellow who 'dragged' himself to the meeting because his daughter was getting married in the summer and he was terrified of getting up at the wedding and speaking in front of the wedding guests. At the end of the meeting he was very shiny (sweating profusely) and shared with me that he could just not "imagine" himself speaking out in the TM meeting and just could not come back. I offered him information about EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique) and am assuming that he might have looked into that. What interested me was that this fellow was a successful realtor-- he was fine working one-on-one, but saw 'public speaking' as a fate worse than death (we have all heard of that). Take a look at this clip of a fellow who is getting under his fears to 'the suppressed thing' that prevents him from feeling confident and whole:

Joe Vitale Talks About How EFT Helped with Public Speaking Anxiety and Many Other Issues

When we are stressed and phobic we sometimes feel like we are "the only one"-- it's pretty inspiring to hear that people like dynamic speaker Joe Vitale was also "afraid of public speaking"-- he had answers to people's problems around wealth-building, but he was terrified of public speaking. In the video that follows he talks about going to Toastmasters or to the Rotary Club, etc., and before getting up in front of others, it is useful to state what the belief behind the block (the limiting belief) and then apply the Emotional Freedom Technique so as to release the limiting belief.

Using EFT Tapping to Overcome Public Speaking Phobia

When I first started going to Toastmasters-- all by myself, the "new kid in town"-- I was pretty close to terrified. I spent every start of the meeting in the john with my 'nervous gut'. Then I started to employ a couple of helpful, simple techniques that helped immensely with my nervousness: one was not to eat heavily on the day of the Toastmaster's event/meeting, and the other was to do this excellent EFT tapping that you can see in the following video:

Building your Vocabulary for Great Speech-Making

When I was a young child my teachers often marveled at my expansive vocabulary when my parents went to the Parent-Teacher meetings-- we lived on a farm in rural Canada, but my parents were both voracious readers. Dad read aloud to all of us (including my mother) at bedtime. Early books included "Winnie the Pooh" and "Mill on the Floss". I had very little understanding of George Elliot's "Mill on the Floss" but was delighted when it turned up on my first year English reading list when I went to College.

I do believe that the growth rate of my vocabulary has diminished as I grow older. I play on the computer more and read less, particularly fiction. I have no stats to prove it, but I hunch that reading good fiction-- literature, if you will-- is an organic, osmotic way to go about increasing your vocabulary. Take a look at this video clip and start developing your vocabulary today:

Exercises for the Face Muscles for Public Speaking

Have you ever noticed how pleasant it is to listen to people who have a relaxed, smiling face? One of my Toastmaster buddies was really focused on telling people how their voices lifted and warmed and got colorful when they smiled. That was certainly one of the most important tips I received from him. Sometimes when my dh is on the phone and very sombre I will jump around with my fingers at the corners of my mouth to cue him to smile... he is such a great sport, and I DO notice how it changes his voice color and quality.

It's Not What You Say, But How...

This week's tip is about: THE MESSAGE IS NOT WHAT YOU SAY; THE MESSAGE IS WHAT OTHERS GET FROM IT.

Do you have just 2 minutes? That's all the time it takes to read the following article. But if you're really short on time, just read the first paragraph. It summarizes the whole text.

Enjoy!

J.A. Gamache
http://www.jagamache.com

P.S.: DO SOMETHING WONDERFUL FOR YOUR FRIENDS!
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Free article no. 29
THE MESSAGE IS NOT WHAT YOU SAY;
THE MESSAGE IS WHAT OTHERS GET FROM IT.
by J.A. Gamache
Third place Champion at the 2001 Toastmasters International
World Championship of Public Speaking

Avoid the frustration of being misinterpreted by an audience. Practice your speech in front of a group and ask them what they think your message is.

My experience has been that, no matter what my initial intentions, the only message I end up conveying is not what I said but what others understood.

Sometimes, all it takes is one word to change an audience's perception. For example, and this is from personal experience, there's a huge difference between saying: "I like your dress," and "I like your dress today." The second comment got this question: "What? You didn't like my dress yesterday?" If only I had left out one word, she would have understood that I was trying to pay her a compliment.

The meaning of your message can be unintentionally changed by other factors besides words. Your tone of voice and gestures can also influence the perception of an audience. Try the following experiment. Laugh and say, "That's very funny!".
You'll notice that your message has a single meaning--that it was very funny.

Now say it seriously, "That's ve-e-ry-y-y funny-y-y!" Use your best nasal tone. What did you just say? Exactly the opposite--that it was not funny at all. That's what's called irony--saying something to express the opposite.

Finally, repeat the sentence, using the same ironic tone and curling your upper lip. Look up (try it! Look at yourself in a mirror). Now your message is: "You're an idiot!"It may surprise you to see how little details like these can change your message so much that you can be misinterpreted.

That's why I strongly suggest that you check the meaning people get from your message. Test it in front of a group before you give your speech in public. Your test audience can be just one person. It's not important.

Ask the people in your test group what they think your message is. You'll avoid the frustration of being misinterpreted during your next speech. Remember: The message
is not what you say; the message is what others get from it.

Happy speech!

©MMIX J.A. Gamache www.jagamache.com. All rights reserved.

---------------------------------
PERMISSION IS GRANTED TO REPRODUCE THIS ARTICLE in whole or in part if a copy of the reproduced text is sent to J.A. Gamache at info@jagamache.com after publication and also provided that this byline, including the following paragraph, appears along with the reproduced text:

This article was reproduced from "Speaking in Public with J.A.", a FREE electronic magazine authored by J.A. Gamache, International Inspirational Speaker. To subscribe to his FREE e-zine or to find out more about his presentations, visit: http://www.jagamache.com.
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Avoid Swaying Back and Forth...

by J.A. Gamache
Champion 2001, 3rd place at Toastmasters International's
World Championship of Public Speaking


It's annoying to watch a speaker rock back and forth. To help you correct this bad habit, here's a posture to keep your feet stable when you feel extremely nervous.

What do you think of speakers when they fidget or sway back and forth? What message do you think they're conveying?

The impression I get is that they feel very nervous and are not in control.

When I watch videos of my first speeches, I find my swaying so pronounced that I look like I was caught in a storm on the deck of a ship!

An actor friend told me how to stand at the lectern to avoid any swaying movement. It worked! I felt more stable right away.

Here's the position he suggested:

1- FEET AT SHOULDER WIDTH.
That is usually the position you adopt when you walk.

2- ONE FOOT SLIGHTLY IN FRONT OF THE OTHER.
This way you avoid swaying back and forth.

3- KNEES SLIGHTLY BENT.
The moment you bend your knees, you notice increased leg stability.

Try the following test: Adopt your usual stance and ask someone to give you a gentle push. Most likely, you will lose your balance. Now do the same test standing in the position suggested above. This time it will be hard to make you fall.

Adopt this stable position and practice it often. Use this stance when talking to a college at work, or waiting for the bus, etc. Do it as often as you can and soon the position will become natural.

The next time you give a speech, use the stance I have just described. It will make you stop swaying and give everyone the impression that you're calm and in control, because your legs will feel stable even though you may feel extremely nervous.

Happy writing!

©MMIX J.A. Gamache www.jagamache.com All rights reserved.

---------------------------------
PERMISSION IS GRANTED TO REPRODUCE THIS ARTICLE in whole or in part if a copy of the reproduction is sent to J.A. Gamache at info@jagamache.com after publication and also provided that this byline including the following paragraph appears along with the reproduction:

This article was reproduced from the "Speaking in public with J.A." FREE electronic magazine, authored by J.A. Gamache, International Inspirational Speaker. To subscribe to his FREE e-zine or to find out more about his presentations, visit http://www.jagamache.com .
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An Unforgettable Speech...

by J.A. Gamache
3rd place Champion in 2001 at Toastmasters International's
World Championship of Public Speaking

So you want to deliver a memorable speech? Then tack a story on to your message. Why? Because although people may forget your message, they generally remember stories.

When people who have seen my presentations approach me, they typically talk about my stories rather than my message. They'll generally say something like,' I remember the story about your grand-father and the chair,' or, 'You're the guy who talks about the butterfly, right?' or 'I remember the story about the young baseball player... It made me think...'

I don't exactly know why audiences remember stories the most. Is it because they empower the imagination? Or do they remind us of the stories we were told as children? Or perhaps they stir up the emotions? I don't know, but they work! In fact, this technique works so well that it's always better to incorporate a story into your message if you want it to be remembered easily.

Professional speakers understand that. That's why they often use storytelling to support their viewpoint. Listen closely to the way the pros speak. Many of them even start and finish their presentation with a story. Using storytelling to get your message across is an old teaching technique. Isn't it how we often teach our children? For my part, Aesop's fable, The boy who cried wolf, taught me not to lie about needing help. In this tale, a boy so often
pretends that wolves are attacking that the day he really needs help no one comes to his rescue. Although I've never had to face wolves, I learned a lesson from the boy and never, ever cried wolf!

Tell at least one story in your next speech, whether it's funny or sad, real or imaginary, or whether it's personal or
not. What matters is that all your stories make your speeches memorable. Don't forget: if your message is backed up by a story, chances are it will be remembered!

Happy writing!

©MMVIII J.A. Gamache http://www.jagamache.com
All rights reserved.

---------------------------------
PERMISSION IS GRANTED TO REPRODUCE THIS ARTICLE in whole or
in part if a copy of the reproduction is sent to J.A. Gamache
at info@jagamache.com after publication and also provided
that the following byline appears along with the
reproduction:

This article was reproduced from the "Speaking in public with
J.A." FREE electronic magazine, authored by J.A. Gamache,
International Inspirational Speaker. To subscribe to his FREE
e-zine or to find out more about his presentations, visit
http://www.jagamache.com .
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Experiencing Satisfaction following your Speech

by J.A. Gamache
3rd place Champion in 2001 at Toastmasters International's
World Championship of Public Speaking

Are you often dissatisfied with your speeches? Maybe your expectations are unrealistic. Stop being hard on yourself, and schedule your own learning goals.

When I first started, I was always disappointed after giving a speech. No matter how much people praised me I was still unsatisfied with my performance.

Do you feel the same? Do you require perfection from yourself? Are you under the impression that unless you receive a standing ovation, your speech was a failure?

One day I realized that my feelings of failure were due to the fact that I was comparing myself to some of the public speaking stars who earned thousands of dollars for each performance. Of course the comparison was unfair, but I had
yet to realize that my heroes had taken years to get where they are today.

I understood then that my goal of being a public speaking virtuoso was still a good goal, but a long-term one. Accepting that I was still an apprentice, I came to realize that I needed short-term goals in order to progress towards my dream of becoming a star performer. That's when I decided to schedule learning goals for myself.

What is a learning goal? A simple, measurable goal that touches only one aspect of public speaking.

Try it! For each speech, challenge yourself to improve one aspect of your performance... but only one! Promise yourself you'll be satisfied if you succeed at that one goal.

Here are a few examples of challenges I gave myself:

- Speak without notes
- Stop rocking back and forth
- Look the audience in the eye
- Smile throughout my speech
- Speak slower to breathe easier
- Be more expressive
- Dare to talk about a difficult subject--the kind that usually makes me cry
- Make more pauses
- Stay within the time limit
- Use my voice in a variety of ways
- Have fun during my presentation

And so on...

For your next speech, stop expecting perfection of yourself. Instead, challenge yourself to meet a learning goal like those mentioned above. Since these objectives are easier to reach, you'll be satisfied with your progress after each speech.

Happy writing!

©MMVIII J.A. Gamache http://www.jagamache.com
All rights reserved.

---------------------------------
PERMISSION IS GRANTED TO REPRODUCE THIS ARTICLE
in whole or in part if a copy of the reproduction is sent to
J.A. Gamache at info@jagamache.com after publication and also
provided that the following byline appears along with the
reproduction:

This article was reproduced from the "Speaking in public with
J.A." FREE electronic magazine, authored by J.A. Gamache,
International Inspirational Speaker. To subscribe to his FREE
e-zine or to find out more about his presentations, visit
http://www.jagamache.com .
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An Easy Way to Get Laughs

by J.A. Gamache
3rd place Champion in 2001
at Toastmasters International's World Championship of Public Speaking

An easy way to get laughs is to change a common expression so it has an original ending.

When someone says, 'Thank you very much!' to be polite you should answer, 'You?re welcome.' Well, one day I said, 'Thank you very much!' and a person answered: 'You're welcome very much.'

I smiled immediately. I found the answer so original that I've been using it ever since. The joke works almost every time: I always get a laugh or at least a smile.

We could ask ourselves why this type of answer is so effective. The reason is simple: the preceding polite exchange with the ridiculous ending is built like a joke.

In fact, one of the basic techniques in humour consists of using the set-up/punch structure. The joke starts with the set-up, whose goal is to bring the audience to anticipate the end of a story. When the story ends with an unexpected punch, the element of surprise makes the audience laugh.

The element that makes the 'Thank you very much' example so original is that the person set up the joke without knowing it. And like with any good joke, the audience (in this case the person who thanked you) is convinced she knows the end of the story. The person expects you to answer: "You're welcome," and has no reason to think otherwise. When you answer, "You're welcome very much," the person is surprised and laughs.

Each time you use a common expression, you're creating a set-up. Here's another example in which the set-up is a famous quote. This time the same person says the set-up and the punch.

You start by saying: 'Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach him how to fish and?' You make a pause so the audience remembers that the end of the quote is: 'you feed him for life.'
However, you surprise everyone by saying: 'you get rid of him for the week-end!'

Try this technique the next time you write a speech. Have fun changing the end of common expressions. It's an easy way to get laughs almost every time.

Happy writing!

©MMVIII J.A. Gamache http://www.jagamache.com All rights reserved.

---------------------------------
PERMISSION IS GRANTED TO REPRODUCE THIS ARTICLE
in whole or in part if a copy of the reproduction is sent to J.A. Gamache at info@jagamache.com after publication and also provided that the following byline appears along with the reproduction:

This article was reproduced from the "Speaking in public with J.A." FREE electronic magazine, authored by J.A. Gamache, International Inspirational Speaker. To subscribe to his FREE e-zine or to find out more about his presentations, visit http://www.jagamache.com .
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Railroaded by Strong Emotions?

by J.A.
Gamache 3rd place Champion at Toastmasters International
World Championship of Public Speaking 2001

When you get emotional during a speech, the best thing to do
is to take the time to breathe properly.

I love to tell touching stories, because when I'm moved, the
audience experiences the same emotion. That's what I call the
resonance effect. When the audience and I are at the same
emotional level, we're like tuning forks.

A tuning fork is a metal instrument used by piano tuners. It
looks like a stick with a long, narrow U shape welded to the
tip. When we grasp a tuning fork and hit it against
something, it makes a musical note.

The remarkable thing is that when you place a second tuning
fork very close to another one without touching it, it also
makes a musical note. The vibration of the first tuning fork
is sufficient to make the second one resonate. Similarly,
when you tell a touching story, the vibration of your own
emotions will be enough to make the audience feel the same
emotion.

Wouldn't you agree that most people love to be touched by a
well-delivered story? In fact, the most successful movies are
dramas that make us experience strong emotions.

The audience will enjoy the emotions they experience during
your talk, but under one condition: that you stay in control.
People are touched when they see you on the verge of tears,
as long as you can still talk. But if you have to stop and
take a few moments to calm down, that time may seem like an
eternity to them, and they'll feel uneasy.

Here's what to do when you feel a surge of emotion during
your speech.

1- GO ALONG WITH THE EMOTION
Fist of all, don't try to suppress the emotion. It's too
late. The emotion is already there. You have to let the wave
pass.

2- TAKE THE TIME TO BREATHE PROPERLY
Concentrate on your breathing. We tend to stop breathing when
we experience intense emotions.

Try this the next time you get emotional during a speech:
make pauses. Inhale more often. Take the time to really fill
your lungs. If you have to, speak slower.

With proper breathing, you'll be able to "surf" the wave of
your emotions. You'll see that it is still possible to talk
and not necessarily burst into sobs while you're feeling very
emotional. It's all in the breathing.

During your next speech, learn to breathe better, and you'll
be able to talk even when you're feeling emotional. Through
the resonance effect, your audience will also be touched by
your presentation. Remember that people will forget what you
say and do, but they'll never forget how you make them feel!

Happy writing!

©MMIX J.A. Gamache http://www.jagamache.com
All rights reserved.

---------------------------------
PERMISSION IS GRANTED TO REPRODUCE THIS ARTICLE in whole or
in part if a copy of the reproduction is sent to J.A. Gamache
at info@jagamache.com after publication and also provided
that the following byline appears along with the
reproduction:

This article was reproduced from the "Speaking in public with
J.A." FREE electronic magazine, authored by J.A. Gamache,
International Inspirational Speaker. To subscribe to his FREE
e-zine or to find out more about his presentations, visit
http://www.jagamache.com .
----------------------------------

Can they Imagine...?

by J.A. Gamache
3rd place Champion in 2001 at Toastmasters International's
World Championship of Public Speaking

Have you ever wondered why some speakers are such good storytellers? Here's one of their tricks: they begin a story by first describing the scene of the action and the characters' state of mind--in other words, they create an
image BEFORE describing the action.

Do you know someone who's an excellent storyteller?

A friend of mine has a talent for telling the minutest details of her life. Her stories are lively; she plays all the parts, changing her voice and her face. She makes us relive the scenes with her, and we find ourselves hanging on her every word. She has mastered the art of bringing images to life.

One day, when I was listening to her describe an adventure she had had the previous day, I noticed an important detail in the way she begins her stories.

In virtually each story, she begins by describing the setting and her state of mind. In other words, she sets the stage and the ambiance BEFORE describing the action.

I always knew it was better to conjure up images in a story to bring it to life, but I never understood that it was always better to BEGIN with an image.

Here's what I suggest. The next time you include a story in a speech, begin by conjuring up an image. Set the stage in our mind's eye. If you are one of the main characters, describe how you felt. Each time a new character enters the story, introduce the person by offering a physical description and an insight into his or her emotions.

Capture your audience's imagination by painting a scene of colour, characters and emotions when you begin your story. Once the ambiance is well established then you can begin to describe the action.

Try it. Begin your stories with an image, and watch how eager your audience will be for the outcome. They'll be hanging on your every word.

Happy writing!

©MMVIII J.A. Gamache http://www.jagamache.com
All rights reserved.

---------------------------------
PERMISSION IS GRANTED TO REPRODUCE THIS ARTICLE in whole or
in part if a copy of the reproduction is sent to J.A. Gamache
at info@jagamache.com after publication and also provided
that the following byline appears along with the
reproduction:

This article was reproduced from the "Speaking in public with
J.A." FREE electronic magazine, authored by J.A. Gamache,
International Inspirational Speaker. To subscribe to his FREE
e-zine or to find out more about his presentations, visit
http://www.jagamache.com .
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