WHY DO PEOPLE FEAR PUBLIC SPEAKING OVER DEATH?

By: JOHN JOED BONAOBRA

For most people, the ability to speak is intrinsic. We developed it at a young

age, just as it naturally came out of us. We use this ability almost every second of our
lives. Talking with our friends,we speak; buying iced coffee,we speak; telling the
driver where we want to go, we also speak. However, despite that, why does this
natural ability, when we are already in front of a crowd, suddenly disappear?

While reading this article, try to imagine that you are at the back of the stage,
and you are trying to calm yourself as you are about to deliver a speech. The moment
you take your first step, you see a whole bunch of people, and they are all looking
directly into your eyes. Try to imagine how your body will react. Will you still be able
to deliver the speech? Or not, because you left your natural eloquence at the back of
the stage. This bodily reaction is often the result of fear and a lack of experience
speaking in public. It is common for people to experience this type of fear, which is a
form of social anxiety. They may undergo to symptoms such as severe shaking,
stuttering, or dizziness. Glossophobia, or the fear of public speaking, is considered the
number one fear among society's population. The National Social Anxiety Center
(NSAC) in the United States has stated that the fear of public speaking is the most
common phobia, surpassing the fear of death. It affects 3 out of 4 people, or
approximately 75% of the world’s population. Regarding this study, Jerry Seinfeld, a
comedian, made his famous joke about the fear of public speaking, which I think is
half true, and I quote, "The average person attending a funeral would rather be in the
casket than doing the eulogy.” This mainly shows that people may choose to die
rather than speak in public.

Terrifying as it may seem to have this kind of fear, on a brighter note, just like
any other fear, it can be conquered. Public speaking skills should not be compared to
having an IQ like Einstein's, which is endowed by an omnipotent God. It can be
compared to playing soccer, in which one can be good only if they have the persistent
desire to do so. Fear is the result of a lack of confidence, and a lack of confidence is
the result of a lack of experience. Thus, the most solemn and profound way to
conquer the fear of public speaking is to speak in public. To become accustomed to
maintaining eye contact with the audience, experiencing stuttering while continuing to
speak, and standing with composure while your hands are shaking. It seems hard, but
with practice, anyone can do it. Exposure can be the best therapeutic solution for this
fear. So, if you have the opportunity to speak, grab it to gain experience, which will
eventually give you confidence.

The fear of public speaking tops the fear of death, but if you are courageous
enough to take a step beyond that fear, there is no doubt that you can conquer both.
So would you rather die than speak? Because we would rather hear your eulogy than
see you inside a casket.