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Blogs by Jeanne G. Miller
Fear in public speaking 1/12/2008 6:59:17 AM
Promoting my book requires that I tell people about the message of and reasons for writing Hidden in Pain: a life story of transformation. Yet, whenever I think about standing up in front of people and sharing my story, my heart races I become dizzy and I feel rather sink at my stomach. I will even break out in a cold sweat. My arthritis pain increases. I become so scared that I struggle to organize my thoughts and the meaning found in my writings.
I search for ways to push through these fears, as I believe from the bottom of my heart that the message of hope is vital to others, espically when they are faced with a trying situation in their own lives. Each time I risk standing before groups, I also risk that my story may be discouned, ridiculed, or even distorted by others who would repete it. I also risk the "you should have done thus and suck" or other critiques that show other persons projections of their own issues on to my story. However, my belief in the importance that my story is universal to the human experience, I continue to face my fears about what others will say, how inadequate I feel talking, andhow my message will be received.
With experience, I am learning to prepare my message with increasing simplicity.I believe that preparing well is essential for order and for recall. As the speaking engagements increase, I am slowly becomming more confident that what I have to say will flow out of my mouth in a way that is meaningful to the people who are listening. Eventually I might even go out and ask for opportunities to share my story.
