Understanding Human Psychology

There was a time when, if someone had asked me to stand on a stage and speak, I would have wanted to disappear. Once upon a time, it was me. I too was a shy child, constantly wondering whether people accepted me. Whether I was good enough. Whether I belonged. It took me years to realize that not everyone's acceptance matters, and even among those who matter, only to a certain extent. Some lessons cannot be taught. They can only be experienced. This was one of them. For many years, I was just one among the many. Today, I know I am the one among the many. Not because I am better than anyone else, but because I have found my inner strength and my own reassurance. I still remember where it all began. I was standing on a stage for an elocution competition. A frightened little girl looking at a room full of teachers and students. I could feel the judging eyes on me. The expressionless faces made me even more nervous. I hated every second of that moment. My body gave up before my mind did...

Throughout childhood and my school life, I was a shy and to an extent introverted girl. I would talk to a group of close, trusted friends. It was grade 7 when I was standing on the stage for an elocution competition, and stage freight struck me hard. I got severe cramps and fell down right at the place where I was standing. Today, after almost 20 years, I am a successful trainer and L and D professional, with 11 plus years of experience. So how did this fear vanish? Or did it diminish, and some of it is still there?  Here I shall share some things which I did over the years. Most of them are tried and tested over places by people and they have worked wonders to overcome stage fear. Glossophobia- Fear of Public Speaking Fear of Public Speaking is known as Glossophobia . About 75% of the population suffers from this condition. However, most people do not know about it, as they do not get a chance to engage in public speaking, or they get over this social phobia on...