The Quiet Pressure to Be More Have you ever been told to “speak up more” or “put yourself out there”? Maybe you’ve felt the expectation to be louder, more social, or more outgoing to fit in. We know that, over time, those messages can make you question whether you’re enough just as you are. Many…
Looking back, I never used to feel “socially anxious” whilst growing up. I remember feeling shy as a kid when meeting relatives or strangers, but even when I first started working I felt okay. Anxious feelings kind of crept up on me into adulthood and, I think for me personally, feelings of social anxiety occurred…
For those of us who experience social anxiety, it can often be all too easy for our mind to go into a state of panic when talking to others, and most of the time it’s for no real reason- unfortunately our anxiety is causing our brain to send us the wrong messages. Blushing, stuttering, sweating,…
Let’s face it, we would all rather avoid uncomfortable feelings if it were at all possible. This includes avoiding tough conversations. When we feel hurt or vulnerable, our first response is often to do anything we can to move away from that feeling. We might be choosing to be burying our heads in the sand…
Talking in front of large groups or individuals can be tough for anybody living with social anxiety. I prefer to be around a friend or somebody I’m familiar with when speaking to one or several new people (and a bit of Dutch courage might help me too!). However, in the workplace you will not always…
Yarn Bombing the action or activity of covering objects or structures in public places with decorative knitted or crocheted material, as a form of street art. Yarn bombing Truro might not seem like a very ‘Quiet’ thing to do. It certainly didn’t feel like it as Stacie climbed onto Gemma’s knee, stretching up a lamppost…
You know how messy your mind can feel when you’re surrounded by ‘things’? When the totality of your possessions becomes overwhelming, it chips away at your wellbeing. But, did you know you don’t need to be drowning in a sea of stuff for this to take effect? Some of us are more sensitive to this…
Dear Santa, This Christmas, I don’t want to stuff every nook and cranny in my home with purposeless possessions that have no place. I don’t want a room full of ‘junk’ I haven’t looked at in months. I don’t want to put up another shelf to display random bits and bobs that aren’t deeply meaningful…
What are you thinking about when you’re having a conversation? Are you fully present? Or is there a voice in your head? At Speaking Connections in August we looked at listening skills and explored what goes on in our heads when we’re having a conversation. I think everyone was a bit surprised to find out that…
At April’s Speaking Connections gathering, we spent some time sharing the valuable tips that our members are already using in overcoming nervousness in speaking. This is one of a two-part post sharing our members’ wisdom. Look out for our previous post passing on the gatherings practical tips. Getting into the right frame of mind What can you do to relax before an…
At April’s Speaking Connections gathering, we spent some time sharing the valuable tips that our members are already using in overcoming nervousness in speaking. This is one of a two-part post sharing our members’ wisdom. Look out for our next post passing on the gatherings mindset tips. Practising and using prompts One of the best ways to ease the anxiety…
Do you find the prospect of networking a little daunting? Here are six ultra-specific networking tips for introverts from recruiter Andrew Ellis to help you. “Find safety in numbers.” Take your comfort zone with you by networking in pairs or even larger groups. Going to these events with someone you know can help you by…