Are You Scared of Public Speaking?

Blame it on the old brain.

Raji Pillay
3 min readMay 14, 2023
Photo by Bret Kavanaugh on Unsplash

At the tender age of 17, a remarkable epiphany struck me like a bolt of lightning — I found an unwavering love for standing in front of a crowd and engaging in heartfelt dialogue. Previously, I had been awe-struck by the effortless grace exhibited by my friends and peers as they commanded the stage. Little did I know that I, too, possessed the gift of oratory prowess, and it brought me immense joy. Although public speaking wasn’t a requisite aspect of my profession or life choices, I vowed to seize every opportunity that came my way.

The Nervous Anticipation

No matter how many times I take the stage and relish in the experience, a wave of nerves inevitably engulfs me beforehand. It takes a precious minute or two after commencing my speech to calm my voice, steady my nerves, and truly enter the realm of confidence and focus.

Observing the Spectrum

Recently, my attention has been captivated by the diverse behaviors and emotions exhibited by my colleagues during their presentations at work. Those unaccustomed to public speaking often find themselves trembling during the initial moments, wearing their nerves on their sleeves. Some maintain a visible aura of discomfort throughout their entire presentation, their…

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Raji Pillay

I bring my love for books, coffee, technology and life in general to my writing. Blockchain has caught my fancy and I am exploring it as I write.