Matt Abrahams

I will always hold something cold before I speak, and it helps cool me down.

I blush and perspire less.

So there are things we can do to manage physical symptoms.

The breath work that you talk about is really helpful.

But we also have to think about sources, the things that initiate and exacerbate our anxiety.

I'll give one example.

Many of us are made nervous by the goal that we have.

I advocate for having a goal when you communicate, but sometimes that goal makes us nervous.

My students are afraid they're not going to get a good grade.

The entrepreneurs I coach are afraid they're not going to get funding.

The people listening might be afraid their boss isn't going to support their idea.

So we're made nervous by a potential negative future outcome.

So the way to counteract that is to become present-oriented.

Lots of ways to do that.

You can do deep breathing.

You can walk around the building, have a conversation with somebody.

I tell people, do what athletes do.

Listen to a song or a playlist.

That helps you get focused.

Start at 100 and count backwards by challenging numbers.