Chapter 3

Finding safety in the body

Key wisdom from this chapter

  • The predator reflex: public speaking feels so scary because it evokes a situation where predators are watching you, the prey. This is a normal response that we can overcome.
  • Spot your anxiety habits: fear can show up in your movements, gestures, posture, eye contact or vocal delivery. If you spot it, you can do something about it.
  • The five gateways to body confidence: by finding the right posture, breathing, vision, facial expressions and reacting effectively to silence, we can teach our bodies that we are safe rather than under threat.

The predator reflex

Standing in front of an audience evokes a physiological response similar to that of being under attack. Our body signals ...

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