Rewire Your Brain 2.0, 2nd Edition

3Taming False Threats

Jane came to see me for help with her fear of public speaking. She had been asked by her employer to give a presentation on a new product line that her department had developed. She told me that she was chosen to make the presentation because she was one of the principal designers of the project. However, the thought of standing in front of 50 people made her fear that she would “make a fool” of herself.

I agreed to help her succeed and offered to go one step further: to help her become proficient at public speaking. She first said that she thought I was joking. Then she became curious.

Jane had suffered from frightening public speaking episodes in the past. One time in particular had made an indelible impression on ...