Are you daring greatly or are you simply doing what every one else is doing?
OK to be fair, maybe that’s how it starts – being inspired by someone else and trying out what they are doing. However then it’s time to launch from there, but are you launching?
When you see trends in marketing, media, parenting, art, music etc., do you follow them or are you a person who says, “Ok cool, what else is possible?”
Recently I saw a clip of a woman talking on a TED Talk. First of all, yay for her for sharing her idea. It takes a lot of courage to get up in front of all those people!
However, when I watched the video, I became aware of myself cringing. I asked myself, ” What is this about? ” I became aware that the tone and style she was talking in had been done so many times before that it felt like she was a script rather then a person connecting a unique idea. Through the presentation I didn’t feel like she was willing to meet me. It felt like she was up there trying to get it all right.
Rightness versus Connection
Are you daring greatly or are you trying to get it just right? Are you speaking in just the right tone, with just the right amount of jokes, with just the right formula for getting people intrigued? Does it feel like you are acting instead of connecting? You are a creative energy with an infinite well of possibilities. In your talk your mission is to connect with other wells of possibility in front of you.
Would you be willing to be present enough to dare greatly and be something different in a sea of sameness? How about animating your talk with the creative force of YOU? The quality of your voice tells people if you are present or not. Would you be willing to step outside the box and possibly not get it “Right” for the sake of connecting with your audience?
Scripting
Scripting is a great tool to organize your your thoughts. However a good talk is more then your thoughts. It is your presence. Just working on the script without practicing presence leaves the presentation feeling empty and dull, contrived and possibly manipulative. Dare to go past the script. Dare to be present in front of the audience, whether it is 1 person or 1, ooo.
How do you do this? Allow your beingness to say hi to their beingness. I recently started a performance by looking into the crowd and saying ‘HI”. I looked into as many eyes as I could while I said this. The response was a chuckle and a ‘Hi’ back. At that moment we were present together and it was glorious to share from that space of being a collective!
3 tips to dare to be present:
1 – Tune in– Close your eyes and tune into the essence or beingness of you -that space of stillness and presence that your mind tries to distract you from. Many times before a talk or performance you are in your head rehearsing. This is pointless. At this moment right before a talk you know all you are going to know. The most important thing that can be done is to tune in and get present with the well of possibility before you.
2- Ask a question to yourself– Ask yourself :What can this audience receive? What can I be know or do to be a contribution here? What voice can I be to get this topic heard and embodied? Notice what awareness comes to you.
3- Connect – Once in front of your audience, say HI somehow. Maybe all take a breath together. Perhaps share a vulnerable story.
Keep being YOU. Keep daring to be the difference you are and watch that start changing the world.
