Hey Chris,
Why is it every time I’m on a zoom call, or in a meeting with people, I get butterflies in my stomach when I want to speak?
Yet, when I’m just talking with someone, I just talk.
But here it’s like I’m afraid to just speak out…even when I KNOW I have something brilliant to say! (jk)
But you know what I mean…what’s up with that?
Signed, Monarch Butterfly
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Hello Monarch B!
Did you know that you get the “butterflies in your stomach” sensation when you’re nervous because your stomach is starved for blood?
The blood flow is going to your heart and muscles instead…fight or flight, my friend!
Ok enough of that medical stuff, that’s another website you can visit…LATER! 😉
I, too, have faced the dry mouth, shaky feeling of wanting to jump in and contribute. But the blood left my tummy and headed straight to my head and I could no longer think!
Here are a couple of things that have worked for me…
One, take a deep breath. When we get nervous we either hold our breath or we breathe in a shallow fashion. So we’re not getting enough blood flowing through the whole of our body and therefore we’re off kilter.
When you take a deep breath and then another deep into and through your tummy, you start to relax. (if you’re a fan of meditation, you’ll know the sensation to go for!)
Ok, the moment to release your brilliance may have passed but like a bus (They still have buses right? Or maybe today should we say, just like an Uber) another will come along.
But your body will be in a better more relaxed state to see it coming.
The second thing to give a whirl is to write down what you want to say….
Write down the question or the point you want to make. It may be easier to just “read it” than to speak it, live.
When we speak it live, especially if it’s a zoom call with videos on or in a live meeting, all eyes are on us. This can cause you to clench your teeth or in some cases (so true for me) ramble on adding more to the initial point you had.
Now you feel like your point is watered down…when it was SO brilliant when it first popped into your head!
If you write it down, you’re more comfortable simply saying it without adding any filler.
And so what if they see you reading, you can simply say, “I wrote it down so I wouldn’t forget to share this.”
Then you REALLY look brilliant!
Butterflies or “nerves” are what we ALL face…so welcome to humanity. It’s annoying and with time and practice (like speaking publicly) it really does get easier, if not completely goes away.
So welcome the opportunities to build that muscle and show them what you’ve got, Monarch B!
Your brilliance is too beautiful to hide…
~ Fear nothing. Love everything.
