This issue includes ...
1) TODAY'S MOTIVATIONAL QUOTE
2) FDA PRESS RELEASE about Paxil CR (R) and
Advandamet (R) Manufacturing Practice Violations
3) FEATURE ARTICLE: Making Public Speaking a Breeze
(Part 2 of a two-part series)
4) READER COMMENTS
5) TELL US WHAT YOU THINK!
6) CONTENT FOR YOUR WEB SITE OR E-ZINE
==============================================
1) TODAY'S MOTIVATIONAL QUOTE
==============================================
"If you put a small value upon yourself, rest assured that
the world will not raise your price."
-- Unknown
==============================================
2) FDA PRESS RELEASE about Paxil CR (R) and
Advandamet (R) Manufacturing Practice Violations
==============================================
Knowledge is power. Read the March 4, 2005 Food and
Drug Administration (FDA) press release:
"U.S. Marshals Seize Lots of GlaxoSmithKline's Paxil CR
and Avandamet Tablets Because of Continuing Good
Manufacturing Practice Violations"
http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/news/2005/NEW01162.html
============== FEATURE ARTICLE ================
3) FEATURE ARTICLE: Making Public Speaking a Breeze
(Part 2 of a two-part series)
==============================================
In the last issue we talked about three ways to conquer
the
number one fear in America -- public speaking. This
issue continues with three additional helpful tips!
4) Get an accurate perception of the audience.
Some people fear public speaking because they believe
the audience as "out to get them" -- just waiting for
them to fail. Nothing could be further from the truth!
The truth is that the audience wants you to have a
successful speech. People really want
and need the
information that you're going to provide! Make your
perception more accurate by realizing that the vast
majority of the audience is on your side.
Pretend you are chatting with a group of friends as you
speak to the audience. Know that people really want
you to succeed. They are on YOUR side. Remember,
fear of public speaking is the number one fear. People
can relate to how you're feeling and are rooting for you
to succeed!
Trust me -- most people can relate to how you're feeling
because many of them experience the same queasy
stomach,
rapid breathing, and fear themselves when they
speak in
public. When you perceive the audience as a
friend,
you'll find that as you get a few minutes into your
speech,
your anxiety will lessen. This changed perception
makes a world of difference and will make your speech
go much more smoothly.
An important part of getting an accurate perception of the
audience is realizing that the audience desperately wants
to
hear what you have to say. They really want to hear
your
information.
Focus on the information instead of your fear. Let the
information speak for you. The presentation is not about
people accepting or rejecting you at all. It's about the
information, not you personally. Your role is simply
to share information that they audience desperately
wants and needs to hear.
If you've given speeches before, you've probably heard
this time-honored suggestion for stage fright: "Imagine
the audience in their underwear as you're giving the
speech." Have you tried it? It works wonders to relax
you and help you see the lighter side of things.
Here are some fun images to help you overcome stage
fright. They help you realize that the audience is not
a threat to you.
Visualize the people in the audience:
-- in their underwear
-- in the nude
-- with cartoon faces
-- as little children
-- as fluffy puppies
-- slipping on a banana peel
-- any other funny or non-threatening image
The audience is made up of people, just like you. They
have mortgages, jobs, make mistakes, have dreams, and
feel embarrassed at times too. Whenever the idea of an
audience feels scary, visualize a funny or non-threatening
picture and the fear will start to melt away.
5) Aim for excellence instead of perfection.
Focus on giving an excellent presentation, not a
perfect
one. Remember, most of the time you make
a mistake, the
audience won't even realize it. The
audience doesn't know
what you were planning to say!
Even if people do realize you made
a mistake; or forgot a
key point, they won't hold it
against you. Your confidence
speaks louder than
your words. Making a mistake often
helps you develop
a rapport with the audience because it
helps people realize that
you're human, just like them --
you're not perfect either.
The audience wants passion, not
perfection.
Don't read
your presentation word for word from your
notes. The
audience would much prefer to have an
engaging,
natural presentation that has a few minor
glitches to
one that is read perfectly but puts people
to
sleep.
Be passionate about what you're saying and your passion
will translate into confidence as you speak.
6) Choose excitement instead of anxiety.
Here's a revelation that may really shock you.
Are you sitting down? :)
Here it is: There is no physical difference between
the physical reactions of anxiety and excitement.
Both anxiety and excitement are both caused by the
body's automatic fight or flight response -- our internal
alarm system.
The difference between anxiety and excitement lies
in your thoughts. Fight or flight reactions become
anxiety only after you go down the mental path of
assuming the worst about what's going on in your
body.
Each time you give a speech you choose to make
these reactions excitement or anxiety -- whether
you realize it or not. It's all in how you decide to
perceive the reactions.
You can train yourself to instantly transform your
anxiety to excitement by changing your thoughts. It's
all in your PERCEPTION.
Let's say you feel nauseous before your speech. You
are at a fork in the road with two paths. You can
choose the path of anxiety or the path of excitement.
It's up to you.
The path of anxiety is: "There's that 'sick to my
stomach' feeling again. There must be something
really wrong with me!" These thoughts make your
symptoms even worse.
The path of excitement is: "Great! This fight or
flight reaction is normal, expected, and harmless.
It simply means that I'm excited about giving my
speech! I'm going to give a great presentation!"
Remember, the difference between anxiety and
excitement is PERCEPTION. Make the choice
consciously. Decide that you will embrace the
physical reactions as excitement.
The physical reactions are there to energize you
and help you through the presentation. Say
affirmations that welcome the excitement like:
"I feel excited, and that's OK! I use this
positive physical energy to my advantage.
The audience is in for an informative and dynamic
presentation!"
Before you start the presentation, mentally visualize
yourself flipping a big light switch to the "on" position.
The "on" position means you are excited and
ready to give a great presentation!
If at any time during the presentation you notice that
you're letting the anxiety take over, mentally flip
the switch back to "on" to help you quickly and
dramatically change your perception from one of
anxiety to one of excitement and confidence.
Realize that you can feel physical reactions
(sweating, trembling, etc.) AND give an amazing
presentation at the same time! They are not
mutually exclusive.
It's very normal to have stage fright before a
presentation, and all but a small percentage of
the population experience these SAME reactions
before public speaking. In fact, many public
speaking coaches will tell you that it's impossible
to give a great speech WITHOUT these reactions!
Why? Because it's these same reactions that get
you fired up and motivate you to wow the audience.
What's important is not whether you experience the
reactions -- because humans do -- it's how you
choose to deal with them. Focus on viewing your
fight or flight reactions as positive, managing them
so that they are not overwhelming, and leveraging
your energy to give great presentations!
--------------------------------------------------------------
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Deanne Repich is the Director
of the National Institute of Anxiety and Stress, Inc., a former
anxiety sufferer, and creator of the Conquer Your Anxiety
Success Program. The course is a "take-action" self-study
program that guides you step by step through over seventy
practical strategies for overcoming anxiety. The course, our
newsletter, and other helpful resources are available at:
http://www.ConquerAnxiety.com
--------------------------------------------------------------
==============================================
Check out Omega supplements to
support your anxiety-free lifestyle at:
http://wellness.conqueranxiety.com
==============================================
4) READER COMMENTS
==============================================
"First I want to thank you for your website and newsletters!
I enjoyed it and to tell ya the truth, it gave me confirmation
on what I have done in the past wasn't off the wall (like I had
been told before).
I'd like to share with you what I had found out as well when
I had to give a public speech.
When I had prepared as you had suggested, I also found that
when I had the 'important' points I wanted to convey to the
audience, rehearsed and out of the way, more came up
during the speech. What I hadn't prepared ended up being
more valuable to the listeners!!! I think maybe because I was
so much at ease by that point.
Thank you again."
Nan Berg
Minnesota
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Hi,
Although I live in the UK the problem of anxiety is still a
major issue over here, especially in the field of teaching,
which is my profession. My point for writing is to say how
useful I have found your programme and newsletter. It’s
surprising how easy it is to change when a little thought
and application is made to a situation. I have even applied
some of the anxiety techniques looked at to the tutorial
sessions I hold with students and have had some really
good responses.
An enjoyable programme then delivered in a friendly fashion
with positive outcomes. I like the newsletter format and
especially the chance to reply and offer suggestions. The
public speaking
(article) has been very useful.
Thanks."
Steve G.
England - UK
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Several months ago I started the gratitude list log. It
worked
great to get me over the morning anxiety hump.
I wake up to music (I learned this trick long ago). I turn on
a small lamp in the dark morning to help with the light
adjustment.
Then I snooze the alarm for 7 minutes. Then the most
wonderful thing happens when I write at least five things
I’m thankful for in my gratitude log. My morning starts off
GREAT!!! Thanks for the wonderful newsletter."
Shirley
Greensboro, NC
==============================================
5) TELL US WHAT YOU THINK!
==============================================
Newsletter Feedback or Suggestions?
We'd love to hear what you think! Please e-mail us at:
editor@conqueranxiety.com
Got a New E-mail Address?
To update your e-mail address, simply send an e-mail to
editor@conqueranxiety.com with
both your old and new
e-mail addresses.
Please Add Us to Your Friendly E-mail List
Because of filters and the problems they can cause legitimate
e-mails, such as the Anxiety Tips newsletter announcement,
please make
sure you add editor@conqueranxiety.com
to your
list of
friendly e-mail addresses. Thanks!
==============================================
6) CONTENT FOR YOUR WEB SITE OR E-ZINE
==============================================
Need some fresh content for your web site or e-zine?
You now have permission to reprint these Anxiety Tips
articles on your web site or in your e-zine as long as:
a) Each article is printed in its full form with no changes.
b) You send a quick e-mail to editor@conqueranxiety.com
to let us know where you'll be publishing.
c) You include the following byline at the end of each article:
-------------------------------------------------------------------
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Deanne Repich is the Director
of the National Institute of Anxiety and Stress, Inc., a
former
anxiety sufferer, and creator of the Conquer Anxiety
Success Program. The course is a "take-action" self-study
program that guides you step by step through over seventy
practical strategies for overcoming anxiety. The course, our
newsletter, and other helpful resources are available at:
http://www.ConquerAnxiety.com
-------------------------------------------------------------------
==============================================
Copyright 2001-2005 by the
National Institute of Anxiety and Stress, Inc.
900 E. Pecan St., Ste. 300, PMB 305
Pflugerville, TX 78660
All rights reserved.
Article copyright October 20, 2003,
revised April 12, 2005
Disclaimer: All material provided in this newsletter
is provided
for informational or educational purposes
only. No content is
intended to be a substitute for
professional medical advice,
diagnosis, or treatment.
Consult your physician regarding the
applicability of
any opinions or recommendations with respect
to
your symptoms or medical condition.
==============================================
FREE
online Anxiety Relief Kit
