CALM STAGE fear and fright

“Of all the liars in the world, sometimes the worst are our own fears.”
— Rudyard Kipling

“What’s a good way to calm nerves and gain focus before taking the stage?” 

This is a question I’m often asked by new and experienced public speakers alike. I’ll usually respond with a grin and these seven encouraging words. 

Breath slowly and comfortably from your diaphragm.

As a performing actor, I'm well acquainted with speaking jitters. The sound of my heart pounding in my chest. Butterflies in my belly. The fear of my mind going blank after the Director shouts, "Action!"

Through the years, I've learned the power of diaphragmatic breathing to bring calm and mental focus on-stage and on-camera. Science supports that breathing from the diaphragm (also known as belly breathing) is far more effective than lung-centric breathing.

Here are three big benefits when you breathe from your diaphragm:

• your nerves are calmer due to less breathing effort
• your mental focus improves to help you remember your talk
• your voice projects better for a confident executive presence

To learn and practice how to breathe from the diaphragm correctly, listen to this five-minute message from Coach, Surina Piyadasa: