Toastmasters & Stammering. Can the two really go
together? Many would consider them contradictory. I consider them
complementary.
together? Many would consider them contradictory. I consider them
complementary.
I joined Toastmasters in January 2010. The primary reason I
joined was because I stammer – I have been since I was eight years old. A
friend had told me “Toastmasters makes you a better public speaker”. At that
point in my life, I was desperate to try any method that would make me a better
public speaker. At that point in my life, I would stammer on almost every single
word while giving a public speech; I had to give daily briefings to my staff in
my restaurant. Consistently, after each briefing, feelings of embarrassment, shame
and inadequacy would swell inside me.
joined was because I stammer – I have been since I was eight years old. A
friend had told me “Toastmasters makes you a better public speaker”. At that
point in my life, I was desperate to try any method that would make me a better
public speaker. At that point in my life, I would stammer on almost every single
word while giving a public speech; I had to give daily briefings to my staff in
my restaurant. Consistently, after each briefing, feelings of embarrassment, shame
and inadequacy would swell inside me.
I resolved to attend Toastmasters to challenge myself to
speak in public. This resolution was bittersweet. I knew Toastmasters would
help me, but I dreaded going to our weekly 7:30 pm Monday meetings. Every
Monday, I would have butterflies storming in my stomach in the early afternoon.
By the evening, my heart would be racing and my mind would play out all
possible scenarios in which I could stammer. I would then consciously try to
avoid each of them.
speak in public. This resolution was bittersweet. I knew Toastmasters would
help me, but I dreaded going to our weekly 7:30 pm Monday meetings. Every
Monday, I would have butterflies storming in my stomach in the early afternoon.
By the evening, my heart would be racing and my mind would play out all
possible scenarios in which I could stammer. I would then consciously try to
avoid each of them.
By February 2011, I stopped going to Toastmasters. Partially
due to a lack of time, but primarily due to the fact that my fear of public
speaking grew stronger than my will to be a public speaker.
due to a lack of time, but primarily due to the fact that my fear of public
speaking grew stronger than my will to be a public speaker.
Towards the end of 2012, my speech had cyclically dipped
into a recession once again. I decided, and this time acted upon the idea, that
I needed professional help. I turned to a 3-week Intensive Therapy program in January 2013.
into a recession once again. I decided, and this time acted upon the idea, that
I needed professional help. I turned to a 3-week Intensive Therapy program in January 2013.
After completing the program, I arrived back in Guangzhou
and decided I would try to join Toastmasters again. Since I have been back I
have religiously attended every Toastmasters club meeting and taken a role in
each and every one – from Joke master to Table Topics Master to Grammarian. My
club held an International speech competition, and Table Topics competition on
Saturday, March 23; I won 2nd place and 1st place
respectively.
and decided I would try to join Toastmasters again. Since I have been back I
have religiously attended every Toastmasters club meeting and taken a role in
each and every one – from Joke master to Table Topics Master to Grammarian. My
club held an International speech competition, and Table Topics competition on
Saturday, March 23; I won 2nd place and 1st place
respectively.
I then participated in our Area competition – all clubs in
Guangzhou. I gave a speech on a mental tool useful for PWS, called Turn Around
Thinking. It’s when you make a conscious decision to stop beating yourself up,
and focus on the positive aspects of the situation – What did you do well? Why
was the situation a success? You can watch the speech below. PS: I use the word
Stutter because I’ve been educated in American schooling systems. Enjoy 🙂
Guangzhou. I gave a speech on a mental tool useful for PWS, called Turn Around
Thinking. It’s when you make a conscious decision to stop beating yourself up,
and focus on the positive aspects of the situation – What did you do well? Why
was the situation a success? You can watch the speech below. PS: I use the word
Stutter because I’ve been educated in American schooling systems. Enjoy 🙂
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