Your mind is a powerhouse!

It has the power to make you doubt everything that you do. To second guess everything that you’re thinking. To make you feel that whatever it is that you’re facing or feeling, is even worse than it could ever be.

But the reality is that when you’ve faced it, you’ll be left questioning – was it that bad?

In my career I’ve given countless presentations to large collectives of wide ranges of different people. But one thing that remains constant each time is that feeling that it could all go wrong.

I’d lose the ability to speak coherently, to fail to explain what it is that I am presenting on and that everyone will leave with a lessened opinion of me.

But each time, once the talk has concluded, the answer to that question – was it that bad? – is no: categorically no.

So how do we attempt to re-programme our thoughts to take our initial thoughts away from some doomsday outcome?

Well, sometimes it’s as easy as focussing on reminding yourself of your past successes. After all, you’re being given the task because you have previously demonstrated a capability.

Then it’s time to switch from ‘getting through’ the experience, into ‘enjoying’ it. You’re going to have to do it anyway, so why not try to buy into enjoying it as much as you can? Slow your speech down, take deliberate pauses to hold your audience and scan the room for eye contact to connect with your audience.

And if you can’t shift your mindset, instead go into your battle with your shoulders back, chin up and a determination that you are going to own whatever or whoever it is.

All the world’s a stage – be the best version of yourself when the lights come on.