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How would you rate your fear of speaking? Do you dread getting up in front of a group to make a presentation? Do you have trouble sleeping the night before you are scheduled to speak to a group? Are you filled with anxiety the last 30 minutes before you are introduced to speak? If you answered, “yes,” to any of the above questions, you’re not alone. Public speaking is dreaded by millions of people around the world. Approximately 75% of the population has some level of stage fright or fear of speaking in public. It’s at the top of the list when people are asked to rank their greatest fears. Think about that! Speaking in public is a greater fear than the fear of death, which comes in at number two- we’re talking about some serious fear!

Over the past twenty-five years as an executive coach, I have worked with dozens of clients who have a significant fear of speaking. Here are just a few fears they’ve expressed:

• I mostly fear the questions and I’m afraid I’ll appear like I’m under-qualified to present.
• My biggest fear is totally losing track of where I am in the presentation and it will be obvious to everyone.
• My greatest fear is looking like an idiot who doesn’t know what I’m talking about!
• I tend to get too wordy and detailed. I’m afraid I’ll lose their interest and they’ll be bored.
• My face turns red and my voice gets shaky.
• I hate it when my mouth dries up- cottonmouth.
• I’m always afraid I might faint.
• I get sweaty and my stomach starts grumbling. I don’t want people looking at me in that condition which only causes more stress.

Control Your Nervousness

The term “glossophobia” is relatively unknown to most of us. It’s a fancy word for speaker anxiety. Wikipedia describes it as an intense anxiety just before or simply at the thought of having to verbally present to a group. It goes on to explain that people with glossophobia experience “physical distress, nausea or feeling of panic in such circumstances.”

Try Taking Deep Breaths

The power of taking deep breaths at the first sign of anxiety is real. Take nice, slow long breaths in through your nose, hold it and slowly exhale through your mouth. Do this several times while focusing on your breathing. This is a technique that many of my clients have found to be instantly helpful. It’s also such a subtle technique that you won’t draw attention to yourself while you’re doing it! It can slow your racing heart, calm your nerves and prevent your mind from swimming with negative self-talk.

Channel Your Energy

Accept the fact that feeling some increased tension is perfectly normal. In fact, view it positively. The increased energy will allow you to be more passionate about your topic. You may feel an adrenaline rush just like winning athletes feel as they cross the finish line… first! Redirect the physiological symptoms into an exciting delivery through strong vocal projection, natural, animated gestures and an expressive face. Your excitement will be contagious to your audience.

Clear Your Mind

Even successful, highly paid professional speakers feel anxiety right before going on stage.

Take a short walk before going on stage. This could be a simple walk around the building before heading inside to perform. It could be a short walk down the hall and back before entering the ballroom or conference room.

Listen to your favorite music. Speakers often rely on their portable music devices to listen to music that inspires them, relaxes them or creates just the right mindset for delivering their best presentation possible.

Visualize success. Winning athletes, actors, orators and singers share the practice of visualization. Picture yourself-actually see yourself-standing in front of your audience. See how they are hanging on every word that you speak. Notice their facial expressions as they respond to all your main points. Replace any negative thoughts with only thoughts and visual pictures of your best presentation ever!

Many people enjoy buying sentimental birthday presents. This is one great way to show a person how much you think of them and care about them. In some situations we do not get to see the people we love anywhere near enough – they make work away from home or have moved house to a distant town, even to a different country! In these situations birthdays can be one of the few times when we have free rein to get our sentimentality off our chests. Some people may not know what to look for when buying a sentimental gift, so here are a few ideas.

A message in a bottle is a great way to say that you care and there are many companies online that will allow you to create a unique message. You can then have it sent to you or to your loved one. It may be a surprise in the mail, or something special delivered in person. You can write all the wonderful things that you can think of into a rustic looking scroll. You do not have to wrap a message in a bottle because they look very nice in the bottle with a piece of ribbon. You can feel free to make one yourself for an even more personal present.

Most people probably don’t think of trees when thinking of birthday presents, but now you can donate a tree in someone’s honour. You pay for a sapling that will be planted on the birthday of your friend or loved one. The tree will be named after the person that you bought it for. You will be doing something kind for a loved one and for the environment. These days environmental issues are always somewhere at the back of our minds, so finding a gift which appeals to this concern is especially important. It becomes even more relevant when the person for whom you are buying is a nature or animal lover.

You can never go wrong with homemade birthday presents. If you decide to go down this route, the only thing stopping you is your imagination. A homemade gift is truly from the heart. You can make a scrapbook, a meal, sweater, or anything that you think your friend or loved one will enjoy. Homemade gifts are usually the best ones of all. This is an example of when it is the thought that counts. The gift took effort on your part to make that special someone’s day.

There are many ways to come up with sentimental gift ideas for family and friends. Really think about who they are on a personal level. Do something that tells them how you feel about them. Give them something that they can cherish for a lifetime. Sentimental gifts are not about being trendy or how much you can spend. They are about truly giving to someone to show them how you feel. These are often the best birthday presents of all. Choose a gift that really makes a statement to someone. The sentimental gift really is the one that makes people feel special.

Today’s market is ripe with a diverse array of skin care products. As a result, we are overwhelmed and find it difficult to make decisions. However, buying skin care products should not seem as daunting and confusing as it seems; all you need is a wealth of information on the various brands and products so that you know what you are getting into. Do due diligence and research well prior to getting an overdose of the market varieties.

The first step for anyone interested in skin care products is to review the product labels and understand its ingredients, purpose and directions. You should be able to identify those ingredients that may cause harm to your skin. Beware of chemicals like sorbitol, sodium lauryl and laureth sulfates; alcohol, astringents, colorants and certain fragrances should also be avoided as these may cause blemishes, irritation or break-outs.

Natural skin care products are gradually gaining momentum and becoming increasingly popular among people concerned about their skins. Milk, honey, botanical products and oils have been noted to have gentle and soothing effects. Natural ingredients like aloe vera and lanolin are popular choices that create soothing and moisturizing effects on the skin.

Skin care products range from moisturizers, intense acne treatments to anti-aging regimens. The wide range of available products help to fight and delay several natural processes like acne, wrinkling and fine lines. Alpha-hydroxy acids (AHA) and beta-hydroxy acids (BHA) are two ingredients to look for in order to choose an anti-aging product. Some fruits and plants like apples and grapes contain these ingredients. Revitol and Royal Gold are two products growing in popularity by the day.

Chemicals called tretinoins have shown positive effects in case of sun damage and wrinkles. These can be found in medications rather than cosmetics and have the ability to reverse the damaging effects of the sun and to change the skin’s cell structure. Skin care products containing treyinoins are available by prescription only and they help to rejuvenate the skin and provide treatment for wrinkles, fine lines, rough patches and dark spots.

Prior to choosing any products for use, it is imperative to get an idea of your skin type. This answers a lot of questions you may have and will help to make appropriate decisions regarding the skin care products. You might know your skin type but if you are uncertain, it is safest to consult a dermatologist who can guide you accordingly. You may have oily or dry skin or perhaps a combination of both.

Sensitive skin is also quite common and needs special attention. So, in order to determine your exact skin type and to buy products those are compatible with the particular skin type, ask a dermatologist. This will prevent you from using products that you may be allergic to and that may cause unwanted reactions.

The following are 5 tips that will guide you in choosing your skin care products:

1. Know your skin type: It is important to know your skin type so that you can buy the correct products that meet your particular needs. The most common skin types are oily, dry, combination and sensitive.

2. Read the label: The importance of reading the label and getting acquainted with the ingredients cannot be stressed enough. Water is a primary ingredient that should be present in moisturizers as it best hydrates the skin.

3. Calendar: Different seasons and climates require different products for the skin. So, you should buy products according to your skin type and according to the weather. For instance, your summer skin treatment should include sun block ingredients. Similarly, dry skins should be treated with care during winter to avoid dryness and rough patched.

4. Compare Prices: Take a look at the prices and buy products that fit your budget. Some products are simply too expensive and not necessarily the best. With this, you should ask how much of the product you need, how often you will be using it and your expected results. These considerations will help you to determine the brands that work for you and the prices that meet your cost requirements.

5. Use Regularly: The key to positive results is to use the products regularly and to follow the directions. Anti-aging creams and night creams are specific products that should follow a regimen otherwise the purpose is defeated. Use your products as often as they are recommended for best results.

All these factors imply that you should be diligent before pursuing any single brand or product. Careful review of competitive products, their prices and their effects will help you to make informed decisions about your skin and your overall health. A review site which lists information on varied skin care products is a good place to start.