Calm Your Public Speaking Nerves With Brain Entrainment

INTRODUCTION Public speaking has been recently recorded as one of the general population's biggest fears, alongside concerns over sexual performance, and even death! Why do we as human beings harbour this phobia, and how can we calm public speaking nerves? This is what we will soon be discussing, but first; why is it important to cultivate the skill of public speaking? Success within the ordinary work-a-day world is dependent upon your ability to communicate with confidence and charisma, delivering your ideas across to others in manner which is articulate and full of conviction. This does not solely apply to speaking in front of large crowds, as in a formal presentation, but also in our social interactions with peers and associates. Repeated exposure is sure to dramatically reduce fear and tension, but for most, the difficulty lies in taking the necessary steps towards that goal. OUR TRIBAL PAST It is interesting to note that due to the socialisation process of our tribal past, our fear of public speaking is in fact programmed into our brains. This alludes to the 'emotional territorial-circuit', in which the bottom-dogs would submit to the alpha-males, and would refrain from speaking out in fear of expulsion from the tribe. It was very much a case of 'conform or be cast out'. With good oratory skills however, it became possible to gather people, and form your own tribe. Public speaking skills were therefore seen as a way of earning respect. As you have probably gathered, nothing much has changed since then; these primitive instincts still reside within us. BRAIN ENTRAINMENT If you are familiar with brain entrainment, you'll know that different states of awareness, such as wakefulness, fatigue, etc., possess corresponding brainwave frequencies. These frequencies can be mapped out visually in graph form with an EEG (electroencephalograph). When we anticipate public speaking of any kind, we commonly experience fear and anxiety. Within this state, the brain operates within the region of approximately 30 - 40Hz, which corresponds to a brain-wave frequency of the 'high-beta' range. It is possible though to lower this frequency to one which is conductive to a calmer state of mind. To do this, we entrain our minds to the flipside of the beta state, which is the theta/delta range. Listening to a binaural beat or isochronic tone prior to public speaking will still your mind, reduce anxiety and put your more at ease. Do not just listen passively though; instead, use your imagination to visualise yourself delivering the presentation successfully. This feedback loop will reinforce a positive self image, so that you can communicate with a great sense of self-confidence. With tenacity and persistence, your public speaking phobia will be a thing of the past.