Don't Let Negative Self-Talk
Dent Your Self-Confidence !


Developing more self-confidence and self-esteem has been a consistent theme of this blog. There are so many reasons why that is important and why it's the best gift you can give yourself today or any day. Like winning a race or getting an A+ on a final exam, it just makes you feel good and so much better about yourself.

Those good feeling allow you to face the next challenge, problem or opportunity with more strength and self-assurance to insure your next victory. So, today and in the coming days in this blog we'll develop a plan, a paint by the numbers, if you will, to be certain you are becoming more confident and feeling more self-esteem each day. It will be fun and feel almost as good as winning that race.

First, you should learn to be alert to the self-talk that goes on in your head, as it does in everyone's brain. If the conversation is negative, if you see you're putting yourself down or calling yourself negative names, the stop. Stop when you hear that negativism and oppose it with the facts about your own worthy self. You deserve to love yourself first among all people.

Next, promise yourself to silence the inner critic, which perhaps you learned from too severe parenting or wherever. Oppose that negative self-talk by building yourself up as a coach on a sports team would build up his players in the locker room.

Root for your self. Be your own best cheerleader. More suggestions to come in the next blog, as to how you will learn to admire and appreciate your inner hero and live that for all to see. Why not, it's very attractive. Your friends may think you got a new hair style or started working out more. You will be more attractive for all to see.

A Note on Photos

For all who asked about getting photos,
I use free ones from yotophoto, they're
great and then I use

google free pic organizer

PICASA...... you can get that free

by clicking on the link at bottom
of this blog.

You can also click on the
photos to enlarge the picture.

Four Tips to Relieve Presentation Terror

1. Regardless of how deeply rooted your fear of public speaking is, with a few simple adjustments to your method of preparation, you can grow more confident about your abilities, so that much of your fear disappears. When you know what you're going to say and that your presentation is strong, public-speaking may still be a little nerve-wracking, but it's exciting, too. Try these tips to help turn that stomach-turning anxiety into the rush of great communication.

2. Know what you're talking about.

• When you prepare an organized presentation of any kind, you must be knowledgeable about the company, product, or situation.
  
• Talk about things you actually know well. If you're not confident that you know all that you need to, commit to doing thorough research and learn what you need to know to feel and look expert.
  
• If you truly don't know what you're talking about, it will show, and all the tricks and techniques in the world won't help.

Decide on a few key points. Good keynote speakers typically don't have more than three or four key things for the audience to take away from their presentations. The classic presentation formula is a story that makes the audience laugh in the beginning, a few key points for them to take away (usually illustrated with stories), followed by an emotionally moving story at the end.

Another basic formula for effective communication is:

- Tell your audience what you're going to tell them.

- Tell them.

- Tell them what you told them.

3. Create visual triggers. Invent pictures in your mind and "store" them in various places around the room where you'll deliver the presentation. The pictures then become your speech. For example, if one of your points is about achieving goals, you can envision a set of goal posts as a visual representation of that concept. If you want to make a point about freedom, envision an American flag somewhere in the room, or a huge stack of money if you want to talk about increasing profits.

4. Relax, have fun and be yourself. People respond best to a message when the person delivering it is genuine. With sufficient preparation of the right type, you'll feel comfortable enough to be yourself in front of a group. You can then demonstrate how much you believe in what you're saying. When you can relax and be an authentic human being, you tap into powerful communication.

Quotes Worth Remembering

Do not confuse motion and progress. A rocking horse keeps moving but does not make any progress.
- Alfred A. Montapert

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Whatever course you decide upon, there is always someone to tell you you are wrong. There are always difficulties arising which tempt you to believe that your critics are right. To map out a course of action and follow it to the end, requires some of the same courage which a soldier needs.
- Ralph Waldo Emerson

Click on the image to expand it
to full screen size. It is then even
more spectacular.



Today's To Do List

• Think of yourself as an actor about to go on stage. You have a part to play and it's called giving a speech, so you act, like an actor and walk to the lectern calmly and give your speech.
• As you are about to be introduced, you can visualize yourself in a calm and lovely setting, perhaps by the ocean, nature nurturing your mind and body. Then, you are in a relaxed frame of mind to rise and speak.
• Practice your speech using bullet points, rather than memorizing the entire speech, so that you can talk in an eloquent manner flowing from one point to the next in a casual, rather than rehearsed manner.

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about self-esteem and how it relates
to assertiveness and success in life
http://assertivenesssucceeds.blogspot.com
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Conquering Your Fear of Public Speaking


If you get nervous before an important speech or presentation, you're not alone. Approximately 70% of presenters experience butterflies and pre-speech jitters. Yet for a significant portion of the population, fear of public speaking or communication apprehension (CA) can be a serious problem. It may be a lifelong fear or current apprehension toward a specific situation.

Either way, it can severely limit personal and organizational goals including career advancement, company outreach efforts, and visibility for your organization.

AREAS OF FOCUS

• Determining the causes of your speech anxiety
• Controlling physiological, psychological, and emotional responses
• Calming your nerves and gaining confidence as a speaker
• Turning nervousness into exciting and energized presentations
• Exercises for breathing, relaxation, and improved focus
• Learning how to counter the "fight or flight syndrome
• Developing and practicing positive coping statements

• Setting specific and reachable goals
• Learning rational and realistic responses, rather than destructive thinking
• Healthy breathing for speaking and interpersonal situations
• Practicing positive self-talk
• Time management techniques and managing the speaking situation
• "Grounding" yourself to gain strength and authority
• Becoming comfortable and dynamic in your movement and body language
• Staying flexible and able to think on your feet even with challenging audiences

• Learning "mindfulness," or being 100% present in your presentations
• Coming across as a polished presentation professional
• Listening skills for understanding and responding to audiences
• Trusting your instincts and maximizing your natural talents
• Approaching speaking as communication rather than performance
• Using visual aids to take the pressure off AND boost your persuasiveness
• Practice and preparation: From 100% anxiety to zero!
• "Letting go" for maximum influence . . . and enjoyment

• Building in interactions with speech and presentation attendees
• Progressive relaxation (in full view of your audience!)
• How to make—and enjoy—eye contact with your listeners
• Focusing your nervous energy to positive effect
• How to pace your presentations so you're relaxed and comfortable
• Using silence and pauses to look and sound confident
• Establishing a relationship with your audience for likeability and charisma

Welcome. So glad you found us.

Please leave a comment if you like,
and we hope you will find the articles
and ads to be of help and will come back often.

and don't miss a new blog:

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fly away with me in your imagination and see
some of the most beautiful places on earth
http://dreamy-destinations.blogspot.com
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Because no-fear public speaking
and successful assertiveness

relate to self-esteem and self-confidence,

today I am suggesting books closely related to those topics by two of my favorite authors:

Gayle and Hugh Prather


Morning Notes by Hugh Prather

The Little Book of Letting Go by Hugh Prather

Shining Through by Hugh Prather

Spiritual Notes to Myself by Hugh Prather

How to Live in the World and Still Be Happy by Hugh Prather

I Will Never Leave You by Gayle and Hugh Prather

Spiritual Parenting by Gayle and Hugh Prather

Notes to Myself by Hugh Prather

Paint some happy trees!

Some really good news:

2 of my blogs were reviewed

on "Critique My Blog" this week,

and here's the review----

Paint some happy trees!

http://browniesforbreakfast.blogspot.com

http://waterfallsuplift.blogspot.com

Both blogs are about positive energy.
The posts are inspiring and thought
provoking and the goal is to help the
reader succeed in life. The photos in
the waterfall blog are great and make
me want to walk right through some
of them to feel the mist. Both blogs are
worth a look as the posts are well written
and helpful.







Today's To Do List

• Think of yourself as an actor about to go on stage. You have a part to play and it's called giving a speech, so you act, like an actor and walk to the lectern calmly and give your speech.
• As you are about to be introduced, you can visualize yourself in a calm and lovely setting, perhaps by the ocean, nature nurturing your mind and body. Then, you are in a relaxed frame of mind to rise and speak.
• Practice your speech using bullet points, rather than memorizing the entire speech, so that you can talk in an eloquent manner flowing from one point to the next in a casual, rather than rehearsed manner.