Wise Tips on Public Speaking
by
Randall Lynn Phillips
Consistency
Hello and welcome once again fellow Toastmasters, those thinking of becoming Toastmasters, and those simply have inquiring minds wondering what is / are Toastmasters. Usually I like to start by answering the latter. We are an organization of people helping people be, not only great public speakers, but to also help each other become…….. outstanding! This covers building leadership, teaching, motivational skills, and more. Oh! And we’re big too. One can find us just about anywhere. Look us up to learn how we can be a service to you, or you to us.
The topic for this article is one where I feel many of us have a lot of room to improve upon. Consistency! Many people start out strong on fulfilling promises, starting new tasks, hobbies, adventures, jobs, keeping marriage vows, New Year’s Resolutions, and the likes. As you can see some are far more important than others, and we should continue as originally planned, but then something starts to happen. Our interests start to waiver. Our high enthusiasm starts to drop to lower levels. We soon start finding it difficult to continue in our endeavors for multiple reasons. It’s not fun anymore. We become bored, or it was never as fun as we’d originally hoped. We don’t have the time. Other things and/or people enter in and seek our attention. We get lazy. We get selfish. And, there are times when we simply stop caring. There are others where we get depressed and end up getting into ruts, having been put there by the trials of life.
I’m quite sure all of us have experienced a few of the above and probably several others I haven’t even mentioned. Now, my questions are first, how do we stop this from happening? Can we slow the process down and eventually reverse our downward fall? When we start drifting away and the alarms start going off can we react to them and get back on track? The answers are, yes! And that’s why I’m writing this piece. People, no matter what you’ve been taught or how you may feel, there’s always a way to bounce back in life. We can put a spring in our steps, hold our heads high, and shake off any adversities. Is there a magical trick to use? No! Are there philosophical or psychological studies we have to learn? No! Will it be painful? No! Well, what do we have to do?
Ah-ha! You just read part of the solution a moment ago and it didn’t register as being so. What was it? It’s where I said, we can put a spring in our steps, hold our heads high, and shake off any adversities. Plainly said, we can build ourselves back up. I know you’ve been asking the question of, “How?” for a while now, and when I give you the answers don’t think I’m playing games with you or using double talk. I say this because; part of what it takes to accomplish our goal is the title of this article. Consistancy! Again, the other part is building us back up. In a nutshell we have to build ourselves back up and be consistent with our efforts.
Now, hold on before you toss this article aside. I know what you’re thinking, and that would be I’m only messing with your heads or simply playing word games. However, just the opposite is true. I genuinely want to help. The following tips will give you a firm foundation to build upon. And, I’ll even keep it short and sweet so your attention levels won’t start dropping off like I described above. Here we go!
Let’s encourage and build ourselves up. How do we do this? Believe it or not, by opening our mouths and start speaking uplifting things to ourselves. The next part is to keep doing it. Yes! In other words, be consistent at it. Does this system really work? Yes! And it’s the most widely used within our society. Let me first explain the use of our words. Spoken words have power. The words we speak have meaning, and please disregard any use of slang. Slang is nothing but the usage of perverted and twisted words. Note: Humans are the only beings on earth able to pick, choose, and speak words of their choice. Since words have power we can’t have every creature on the planet talking and communicating as we do. If they could they would most likely organize, gang up, and kick us off the face of the earth. And to prove the power of words, I’ll ask one question. Has someone ever said something to you that moved you in anyway? Be it hurtful or pleasing? Of course the answer is a bold, yes! Surely sticks and stone can break bones, but the power of words can cause wounds to the likes none of us want to ever bear. Good words spoken over us and to us can bring about joy, healing from those harmful words, and build us up both emotionally and physically.
So start speaking positive things over yourself, and you might as well include those around you. It will only serve to help you all in the long run. And again, speak the words out loud. Don’t just think them, speak them. The other half of the power of speaking words is to hear them. We speak. We hear, and the system works.
Next, keep doing it. Write them down and stick them everywhere as a reminder. If one keeps telling themselves, they can, it’s only a matter of time before they achieve whatever it is they’re striving for. Yes! There’s that consistency again. When you find yourself drifting off course in life, that’s the alarm going off, telling you to start speaking and encouraging yourself to get back on track. Tidbit: Use good words on those around you and have them do the same for you in return. Negative talk brings about negative results. Use caution as you speak.
Alright! I’m just about done. The next question I’ll answer is, what does all of this have to do with Toastmasters and Public Speaking? Everything! It’s what we do! We speak! And we learn to speak well! Why not learn to speak well over yourselves as well? It can’t hurt. It can only improve your way of life.
Ok! What about consistency? What does this have to do with Toastmasters and Public Speaking? The answer is easy. It serves to keep you moving towards your goals of becoming all you can or want to be. When we start slacking off we don’t just stand still and are able to pick back up where we left off, we actually start moving backwards and away from our goals.
“Keep at it” and “Never give up” are learned behaviors and attitudes. When used properly………. Come on folks! We win! Do you want to get better at public speaking? Then keep at it and never give up! What does practice mean? Keep at it and never give up! With the right choice of words being spoken over your lives and consistency, I believe you’re on the right road for success. With this as a foundation, the house you build will stand the test of time. Strong winds and the wiles of life can’t defeat you, because you know how to stand and you’re standing on a solid foundation. Watch your words, speak well, and be consistent.
Sincerely, Randall Lynn Phillips
