Speaking In The Flow
Have you ever given a presentation one day that moved mountains, and the next day you were so dull you even bored yourself? I remember addressing a group and suddenly finding myself in the FLOW. My linear mind faded to the background, and a wiser, wittier and charismatic voice came forth. I heard myself wax philosophical. I saw audience members captivated. I felt time stand still. The next day I spent on airplanes and taxis rushing to my next speaking engagement, worried about being on time. I began my talk hoping to feel the FLOW again. I desperately racked my brain for glimmers of genius. Nothing. I tried to repeat what I said yesterday but it felt empty this time. I trudged through my presentation like a soldier through mud. The audience seemed restless. The clock ticked loudly.
Where Does Inspiration Come From?
Many speakers have reported the same phenomenon -- one day inspired the next day insipid. What happens to turn creativity on or off? Let's look at the word "inspiration". One meaning in the dictionary is "the drawing of air into the lungs". When you are truly inspired it is like breathing in purified air. When you expire that air, your breath, or speech, has a high vibration. On low-inspiration days it is like the air intake is stale or polluted, so naturally what comes out is dull or shallow speech.
Unclogging the Hose
Creativity is our birthright. It is magically available to us anytime, like a 24-hour all-you-can-eat buffet. The only problem is we sometimes lock the restaurant door and throw away the key. Opening your creativity back up again requires re-tracing your steps. Here are the top four ways we can lose the connection:
1. Lack of fresh air
2. Dehydration
3. Negative thinking
4. Trying
1. Lack of Fresh Air
Inspiration requires quite literally fresh, oxygenated air. If you have been breathing only recycled or polluted air, then you can impede inspirational speech. Before you speak make sure you find a place outside near trees, snow, water or grass and take some deep inhalations and exhalations. This is especially important if you have been breathing recycled airplane air.
2. Dehydration
Brain synapses act like an electric current. They need a strong conductor. Water is the best conductor for activating your mind. If you are feeling lethargic or negative - try drinking some purified water and notice the difference. Always have a large bottle of pure water available while speaking.
3. Negative Thinking
Anxiety, resentment, and judgmentalness create a wall between you and your creativity. If you want to be a truly creative speaker, you cannot afford the luxury of a negative thought. Over-indulging in negative thinking is like eating a vat of chocolate ice cream. It feels fulfilling in the moment, but you deeply regret it later. It toxifies and clogs up your system so that you cannot access your native genius. Read the previous article for ways to delete worry. It can also work for any other kind of negativity.
4. Trying
Trying to grasp onto the FLOW is like trying to harness a rainbow. The rainbow moves just when you think you've found your pot of gold. The "try" brain and the "creative" brain operate on different frequencies. It's best to let the rainbow come to you.
The Pot of Gold
Once you've breathed some fresh air, drank some clean water, deleted your negative thoughts, and turned down the dial on your "try" brain - your natural creative genius will come forth. Perhaps it will come hesitantly at first, like a fawn towards your open hand. However, if you remain still enough, it will grace your presence. Practice these four steps before any speech and you will find the magic unfold, the smorgasbord of brilliance open for business, and the pot of gold may actually appear at your feet.
Carla Rieger is an expert on creative people skills at work. If you want a motivational speaker, trainer, or leadership coach to help you stay on the creative edge, contact Carla Rieger.
Web site: http://www.carlarieger.com
Tel: 1-866-294-2988
Email carla@carlarieger.com