Do you fear public speaking? Do you fear standing up in front of a group and giving a speech or presentation? Are your palms sweaty, your heart racing, and an overwhelming feeling of dread washing over you as soon as the idea enters your head? If so, there’s no need to worry. This is a common feeling and there are ways you can combat the anxiety and calm yourself down before stepping onto the stage or out into the meeting room.
This blog post is going to teach you how to overcome that fear with some simple but effective affirmations. Choose one or two that resonate the most with you and say them to yourself every day, and you’ll notice a difference in no time at all.
40 Public Speaking Affirmations
1. Groups of people excite me!
2. I am fearless.
3. I am excited to share what I prepare.
4. Public speaking makes me feel alive.
5. People care about what I say.
6. I inspire others with my words.
7. I put my heart into my speeches.
8. I am supported by the energy of the audience.
9. My words have a positive effect on others.
10. I am calm when I speak.
11. I speak loud and clear for all to hear me.
12. I am grateful that others listen to what I have to say.
13. It’s easy for me to think of things on the spot, my mind is healthy and active.
14. My voice projects powerfully in any situation.
15. I love to speak in front of a group.
16. Public speaking is natural for me, it’s easy and feels right.
17. It doesn’t matter what my audience thinks of me because they are listening attentively with open minds and hearts.
18. My words empower others to believe in themselves.
19. When I speak, I listen to what others have to say.
20. My voice is strong and clear when speaking in front of a group.
21. Public speaking is fun for me.
22. I always have something valuable to share with the audience at hand.
23. Whenever I speak, people remember what I say.
24. I always speak with a smile on my face.
25. I am confident in front of an audience and it shows.
26. My words help others to feel good about themselves and their decisions.
27. Speaking is easy for me, like breathing air.
28. I am always prepared and ready to speak in front of a group.
29. I am comfortable with discomfort.
30. I am growing by leaps and bounds.
31. I am going to be successful today.
32. I deserve to be paid attention to.
33. My message is meaningful.
34. I am interesting, witty, and charming.
35. I love my audience, they are receptive and kind to me.
36. I am an expert on the topic at hand.
37. My words have a powerful impact on those who hear them.
38. I am the star of my own life story.
39. I create an impact in the world.
40. My stories are captivating.
How Public Speaking Affirmations Help Build Confidence
Practicing these affirmations will help boost your confidence in public speaking by rewiring your brain to think positively. Using affirmations is a lot like weeding a garden. You have the weeds of negative thoughts, and you need to pull them out by their roots so that they don’t come back. Once you’ve done this, it’s important to plant the seeds of positive thoughts so that they can grow and flourish.
Start with one affirmation per day first thing in the morning and say it to yourself in front of the mirror. Feel your voice resonate throughout your body as you speak, and notice how it feels when you say it. Next, take a step back and let your mind absorb the words you’ve just spoken to yourself. You may want to write this affirmation down so that you can refer back to it throughout the day.
You can also use your affirmation when you’re feeling nervous about a public speaking engagement. If you’re about to go on stage, say your affirmation out loud and feel the impact that it has on your body.
You can also practice your affirmations in the weeks leading up to an event. For example, if you have a big presentation coming up at work or are giving a wedding toast, say your affirmations every morning and night for a week before the event.
Public speaking can be nerve-wracking, but practicing affirmations builds your confidence and allows you to be yourself in front of a crowd. When you feel prepared, positive thoughts will come naturally because you have already programmed your brain to think positively.
Tips for First Time Public Speakers
There are a couple of additional ways you can condition yourself to be more confident when speaking in public:
Take a Public Speaking Class
The first is by taking a class on public speaking so that you can get additional practice and feedback from a trained instructor. Look up local colleges or continuing education centers in your area and see if they offer public speaking classes.
Even a traditional class such as a creative writing or art class could be helpful since you will have to present your materials to the class.
You can also find online courses if you want the flexibility of practicing at your own pace.
Read a Book on Public Speaking
The second way you can condition yourself is by reading books and articles about public speaking so that you get a better idea of what’s involved in the process. The more you learn, the easier it will be for you to feel confident, because knowledge breeds confidence.
You can also branch out and read books on related subjects such as self-confidence, spirituality, body language, and even improv comedy. If you read about topics that address your underlying fears responsible for public speaking anxiety, you will be able to address and resolve even more of those issues.
Take Smaller Speaking Opportunities
Another way is by exposing yourself gradually to smaller audiences and building up your confidence over a period of time before taking on bigger challenges like a toast at a wedding or a major presentation.
For example, if you have to give a speech as part of your job and feel nervous about it, start by giving short presentations every day during your morning meeting so that over time your confidence builds up bit by bit until you’re ready for the next step.
You can even get a couple of friends together and give a presentation in front of them, and you will feel more at ease because they’re people that you trust.
Replace Negative Thoughts with Positive Ones
When we become nervous about public speaking, what we tend to focus on is the potential for things to go wrong, such as forgetting our lines or getting tongue-tied when answering a question.
To make sure that doesn’t happen, you need to condition yourself by focusing on the positive aspects of public speaking, such as getting your message across or sharing something with an audience that could inspire them to do well in their lives.
Practice Makes Perfect
Another option is to practice, practice, practice! The best time to speak in front of a crowd is when you have made sure that your presentation skills are polished and ready.
This means practicing in front of people who will be honest with you about what they think, such as family members or close friends. They probably won’t lie to you out of kindness if the speech isn’t up to snuff so make sure not to pick people who will tell you what they think you want to hear.
Practicing in front of the mirror or recording your speech is also a great way to get used to all the movements and gestures that you will be doing in front of an audience. For some, this will be cringeworthy in the beginning, but it’s actually very important that you get comfortable with your image, the sound of your voice, and your mannerisms.
You’ll never be comfortable in front of a crowd if you can’t watch yourself with complete acceptance.
Join Toastmasters International
Another option is to join a public speaking club such as Toastmaster’s International, which has meetings all around the world and is well-known for being a great organization that helps people gain confidence in their public speaking skills.
They will hold meetings where members get up in front of everyone else to speak about subjects such as current events or even just to tell a story that happened during the week.
This is where most people start out when they want to get over their fear of public speaking because it’s an environment where you will feel supported by other people who are there for the same purpose as you so no one feels intimidated or judged. You can also meet fellow members in your local area and attend events together for mutual support.
Make sure that you show up to every meeting because it’s the only way to make progress. If you skip meetings, you’ll never get better and will fall back into your old habits of avoiding public speaking at all costs which means no matter how much effort or time you put in, nothing will change!
Final Thoughts
Public speaking is something that everyone has to do at some point in their life, whether it’s just giving a toast at your best friend’s wedding or making an important presentation to the board of directors.
The more you practice public speaking and expose yourself gradually to smaller audiences, the easier it will get because eventually, you’ll be able to speak confidently about any subject under the sun.
Affirmations are the most powerful tools for eliminating self-doubt and helping you gain confidence in yourself. Make sure that you practice them every day and get ready for your anxiety to melt away as you shift your mindset.