Pandemic Goals
A few weeks ago, I posted a blog called 9 Tips To Do Hard Things. It was all about how I navigated March through August and still managed to pursue my goals, despite the pandemic. (I also acknowledged my privilege within that frame, because again, that’s an incredibly important piece. Not everyone has had the same experience as me.)
Today I want to talk about you. I want to talk about the next 10 weeks of 2020. And I want to talk about a few things to consider as we round out what has been the strangest, most difficult, most globally felt year in the last century, maybe ever.
Again, let’s be clear. What the pandemic means to North Americans is different than what the pandemic means to other countries. Especially countries in the middle of war. And so where we all feel effects of Covid-19, we don’t all feel them in the same way.
Speaking Up
I don’t know about you, but this year has shown me even further that our voices are important. We have seen unprecedented uprising from oppressed people seeking justice. We have seen people understanding their own roles in the injustices.
We have seen many people ignoring the truth.
And here’s the thing: we’re all responsible for this shit. And I think we know that. And I think where it used to be hard to talk about certain things, now it’s crucial. We need to speak up about racism, sexism, homophobia, human rights, money, our health. We need to have these difficult conversations that we’ve been avoiding.
Because, we’re seeing what happens when we don’t.
So many of us who already suffered from anxiety are feeling it harder this year. So many who didn’t really feel it before, are feeling an unease that they’re not used to. There’s only so long that we can let the uncomfortable shit hide before it starts oozing out whether we’re ready or not.
So let’s get ready.
I want to ask you a question: what is a conversation that you need to have that keep putting off?
Why haven’t you had it?
(Can I guess? Is it because you’re afraid to have it?)
What are the repercussions of having that conversation?
And now this:
What are the repercussions of not having that conversation? Are they bigger than your discomfort?
Then let’s do it.
The 4 Elements
First things first, if you haven’t yet subscribed to my newsletter and downloaded my FREE public speaking guide, do it. You can always unsubscribe if you hate my emails, but I want you to have this guide because it’s important. It’s so critical that people feel empowered to speak their truth, whatever that is, that I give away some of my best stuff in that guide - for free.
Go here and subscribe.
The 4 elements are: standing, breathing, speaking, reading. Standing, using Alexander Technique (and lately for Zoom, sitting using Alexander Technique); Breathing using controlled breath to stay calm and focused and deep breaths to support a strong voice; Speaking using your optimum pitch; and finally, Reading using a technique called Text Mapping so that you can be prepared with all of your notes and your text, and still connect with your audience, avoiding sounding like a monotonous robot.
Speaking, Visibility and Confidence
This trifecta of magic is what I use to help coach you into a place where you feel ready, equipped, skilled, fortified, trained to show up (be visible) with power (confidence). Last week I talked about how I’m not a public speaking coach. I very much am a public speaking coach, but that is one small piece of what happens when we work together.
Here are some of the things that people I’ve worked with have done after we’ve worked together:
Got a 2nd interview for each job interview she had.
Felt empowered to step into her leadership role AND found the tools useful for navigating her relationship.
Went from feeling petrified to speaking in front of a group of people to being asked to give a keynote speech, and feeling totally proud of her performance (with lots of great feedback).
After years of losing her voice after giving lectures, finally learned how to breathe and speak in a healthier way that saves her voice.
He had chronic neck pain that got worse when he taught, and after learning standing and speaking essentials, his neck pain is gone.
That’s just a handful of wins. This work moves past simple job or relationship help into even further territory. Like I mentioned above - having that difficult conversation. Confronting a bully. Standing up for yourself. Asking for what you’re worth.
Saying no. (Is that hard for you? It used to be hard for me.)
Having the set of tools to do those things so that you’re not walking in completely vulnerable. If you take a minute to dream into a world where you can do the things you’ve been afraid to do.. how do you feel? What does it feel like to speak up? To make boundaries? To say no. (What about to say YES?)
If you’re up for diving in, let’s do it. Email me here, and let’s make a plan!
——————————
Did you like this blog post? I have so many more! Look below to browse through the recent ones, or just click here to see ‘em all!
