How To Stop Fear Before An Interview
Never feel nervous in front of other people, Stop feeling worried before an interview or don’t ever feel sick to the stomach before a performance.
Have you ever experienced that nerve-wracking feeling?
Well, let me share “How I overcome my nervousness.”
According to Mind Publication; 90% of people feel stage fright when they face the prospects of public performance, such as public speech, interviews, presentation, recital or stage performances. Almost everyone experience nervousness.
Meeting and interacting with people in a social situation such as office settings, social club, stage, presentation or job interviews.
Performing under the scrutiny of an audience or interviewer.
For an anxious person; It is not a gathering of friends or fans, but of unforgiving critics.
Why do we feel nervous before an interview, a presentation or a performance?
We feel nervous because of apprehension. We're afraid of what could be the result. How things are going to work out. Most often it is the fear of committing a mistake under the scrutiny of a person who could either approve or reject you. If we do not measure up, confidence goes down.
The National Institute of Mental Health explains:
"Several parts of the brain are key factors in the production of fear and anxiety… scientists have discovered that the amygdala and the hippocampus play significant roles in most anxiety disorders.
The amygdala is an almond-shaped structure deep in the brain that is believed to be a communications hub between the parts of the brain that process incoming sensory signals and the parts that interpret these signals. It can alert the rest of the brain that a threat is present and trigger a fear or anxiety response.
The emotional memories stored in the central part of the amygdala may play a role in anxiety disorders involving very distinct fears, such as fears of dogs, spiders, public speaking or flying. The hippocampus is the part of the brain that encodes threatening events into memories."
So, how can we tame our amygdala so we wont be as fearful?
1) Say to your mind that you are nervous.
Defining what you feel is important in managing your emotion. When you don’t know what you are feeling it is hard to overcome your mental state. When you label the feeling, the pre-frontal cortex is stimulated which send the signal to the amygdala to calm down. Defining your emotion is like stepping the brake pedal to stop your brain from over-reacting.
2) Re-frame your mind from being fearful to excited.
Say to your brain that you are excited more than afraid. The brain won't know the difference.
Say: Ok. I am nervous. So what? I am excited to do this.
3) Think of a “Comfort Thought.”
Pick a thought that will be the positive outcome of what you are about to do.
For example; Having a conversation with your interviewer for your job application.
Think about how it feels after that interview and imagine that you survived and actually got the job.
Imagine the scenario and the words “Congratulations, you are hired.”
4) Count 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 then say...It's “Showtime!”
Then Insert your “Comfort Thought” or the imagination of the positive outcome that you wish.
That is how you switch the gear from your brain.
You have interrupted your fear and you are now in control of your thoughts.
Your brain will become more excited than fearful.
Fear is real and you cannot control it, but you can always control what you think and the action that you will take.
That is how you fool your brain.
( I do not own the copyright to the pictures used in this blog. No copyright Infringement intended)
( Credit to the owner of the picture)
Source;
Science ABC.
Mind Publication.
Mercola by Dr Mercola
The National Institute Of Mental Health.
The Mind.
The 5 Seconds Rule by Mel Robbins
