This is a moment I'll never forget. My and my kids taking off into the skies off the Kona coast of Hawaii. 1200 ft above the ocean, tethered to a speeding boat, having the time of our lives.
It might not seem like a big deal...but for me, it was a pretty special moment.
Ever since I was a child I've wanted to go parasailing. But never in my wildest dreams did I think I'd have the courage to do it.
Let's be clear, I'm not exactly a thrill seeker.
I'm also afraid of heights, I can't swim, and I tend to dwell on all the things that could possibly go wrong...none of these factors were working in my favour!
But you know what got me up there that day?
The same strategy I use to overcome my presentation nerves.
I'm sharing it with you because I know that it can help you too. And it's so darn easy!
Even if you don't get nervous about presentations, this mindset hack can help you face other daunting experiences:
Get excited, not nervous.
Every time you feel "nervous", "scared", "worried" or any other negative emotion, simply replace it with the word "excited". Change your language.
For example, in conversation with others:
"What are you doing tomorrow?" "I'm going parasailing, I'm so excited." "Hey, I heard you've got a presentation next week?" "Yeah, I'm excited."
Or even to yourself as thoughts flow through your mind. Whether that be while working on your presentation or simply thinking about it. If you're like me, those nerves can get you while you're eating, brushing your teeth, falling asleep...they can be all consuming. Nip them in the bud with some positive self-talk:
"I'm excited!"
In other words, don't allow yourself to speak or think negatively, even for a moment. Doesn't matter that you don't believe it, as long as you say it. I use this strategy to stay calm and focussed before and during my presentations, meetings and workshops. Which ultimately results in a better delivery. It works because words are extremely powerful. No doubt you've heard this before, but have you ever wondered why? If you're curious, we need to understand a little about our subconscious mind. I know I'm going deep here but stick with me for just a moment.
A very brief overview:
The subconscious is the part of your brain that regulates your body and keeps things in check. On a physical level, it maintains functions like body temperature, breathing and heart beat. It also does this in the mental realm, working hard to keep you in your comfort zone. It actually causes you to feel nervous or uncomfortable when you step out of that space. But who defines your comfort zone? From a very young age, your subconscious mind is constantly absorbing information from your experiences, using it to determine how you react (physically, mentally, emotionally) to the world around you. So if you've established that presentations are scary, then your subconscious will try to keep you away from them. Racing heartbeat, queasiness, blanking out? Your subconscious has something to do with it - it's trying to keep you safe. The thing about the subconscious is that it doesn't question. Unlike your conscious mind which is always doubting, questioning, reasoning, your subconscious just accepts information at face value and stores it for future use. So if you tell it that you're excited, that's all it knows. And if you keep repeating that without contradiction, then fear is not a factor.
You see where I'm going with this? We're just doing a little reprogramming.
Get excited, not nervous.
I repeated that word for weeks leading up to my Hawaiian adventure. You can't see it but even as I took off from the boat, I was talking to myself saying "I'm ok, this is fun, I'm going to be alright". And the best part? Not only did I face my fear, I didn't even feel nervous at any point before or during the experience. So I got to make the most of my time in the sky. It was sooo beautiful and serene up there. Make the most of your airtime with this easy mindset hack. Just one word can help you overcome your nerves - for presentations, parasailing, or anything else outside your comfort zone.
Comments