Public Speaking vs. the Apocalypse

"And the Oscar goes to...."

Tonight is the night that almost didn't happened. With the writer's strike now in the Hollywood history books, the world can now resume one of its few universal rituals shared through the miracle of world-wide broadcast: The Oscars.

Who hasn't dreamed at least once of hearing their name called at the opening of the sealed envelope. Whoa! Looking absolutely surprised, then kissing and hugging your significant other, hearing the uproarious applause of the envious crowd of your peers as you gain way to the stage to accept the most coveted golden idol on earth from last year's Best this or that, and then looking into the bright lights, cameras, and now dim sea of your peers, and saying....

"Um....um...."

As you've probably noticed, even Oscar's best performers can suddenly be struck speechless or public speech challenged when it comes to graciously delivering some big time gratitude before the orchestra starts to drown them out.

(It's also a case in point why actors do need good writers.)

While most of us will never ever have to speak confidently in front of billions of viewers, making presentations in front of your work mates, colleagues, church, team, potential voters, or social group can be trigger enough anxiety to make us start sweating buckets. I once saw a guy so anxious about giving a 1 minute brief introduction to the introducer to the real keynote speaker, he dug his finger nails into his right thigh as he sat there counting down the half hour before he had to get up and go to the podium. His nails were pretty short, so he was digging pretty hard to break through his trousers and skin. Scary.

There's a reason why people fear public speaking as a fate worse than death: public speaking can feel like how we imagine a slow, painful death to actually feel.

Click here to find the hypnosis program that many actors, CEOs, athlete's and maybe even world leaders use (or should use) to get rid of their public speaking anxieties and jitters.

Again, while you're not likely to have to speak before billions, you certainly don't want to be scratching through thigh skin to get a grip on your biggest fear ahead of the apocalypse.

You are not alone in your public speaking fears. In this category, you are definitely among world renown nominees.