this is one thinga column that collects tips on how to live your life.
I was very bad at speaking in public. like, a lot! It took therapy, SSRIs, and years of practice to significantly improve SSRIs and related activities such as job interviews and big meetings. (One thing I’ve learned in all my therapy is: Zero anxiety For something that is basically universally unnerving, it’s not a realistic or even desirable goal. )
If even in front of a very small group of people your body and mind tense up like a cat trying to immerse itself in water, there are no easy tips or tricks to solve the problem. But there’s something I’ve always done over the years, in bad years and in good years, that has always helped relieve some tension. I search for “free meditation UCLA” on Google, click on this link (which takes you to the university’s Center for Mindful Awareness Research), and play the first guided meditation that appears on the page. It is 5 minutes long.
This track begins with the words, “So, relax and find a comfortable position,” as if the narrator is here to be present with the experience I’m having and gently interrupt it. It seems like it’s in the middle of a preface. Her voice is slow and deliberate. As her meditation continues, she says, “Relax,” and “See if you can be really kind to yourself,” encouraging her listeners to pay attention to the flow of their breath. There is about a minute of complete silence towards the end.
When it comes to meditation, at least for me, there is a good balance of conversation, silence, and time. This doesn’t focus on any particular theme or topic, like the meditation app that I use for semi-regular and very imperfect daily meditations, so it’s basically any This also applies to situations like this. Also, this track is short enough that if you find yourself feeling particularly nervous right before a big meeting, for example, you know you still have time to complete it.
There are many short guided meditations that serve similar purposes. It is also effective to set a timer on your phone and do breathing exercises. Sometimes, instead of cueing the truck, I just take a few deep breaths. But there’s something about doing consistent grounding rituals over and over again that you can access from any nearby device.When you’re nervous, it can be helpful to hear a familiar voice voice.
