Tell me if you're even the least bit surprised by this: Study after study shows that a growing majority of Americans suffer from stress. ...Not even a little shocked, am I right? Do you ever feel like stress is your constant state of being? Like you've got resting stressed face?

Does the thought of public speaking make your heart leap — in terror? What happens next? Do you judge yourself for being nervous? Do you feel inadequate to play the role of “speaker”? Do you wish you could figure out how the heck to just get it over with?

Nerves can be so sneaky, can't they? They hijack your excitement and turn your brain into a scramble. It's no wonder why you would avoid speaking opportunities - even great ones - to avoid feeling nervous. Why would you go out of your way to suffer, am I right?!

Nervous energy is a messenger, not a verdict. Sometimes the message is ‘go toward this.’ You're scared because it matters to you. And sometimes the message is 'get out — this isn't serving you.' You're anxious because the situation is toxic. Learning to tell the difference? That's everything.

Years ago, as an actress, I figured that the more training I had, the less anxious I would feel before performances and auditions. But, somehow, the opposite was true. The more I worked on my craft, the higher my standards became to get things “right”. I wanted everything to be 100% emotionally truthful. But the pressure I put on myself to get them “right” undermined my ability to deliver.

Which comes first - your confidence or your presentation message? After supporting one-on-one clients to create presentations that feel alive, relevant, and relatable for over two decades, I have a strong opinion on this.