All Eyes on Me?
Speaking in public? All the attention moving in your direction? Feeling over-scrutinised? Uncomfortable?
1. Use the William Shakespeare Zen koan. Say these words silently or aloud…
“All the world’s a stage and all the men and women merely players”
Point, literally or metaphorically, to the whole world around you. Point to all the men and women around you. Realise that they are all actors. All players.
Tell yourself that you are the audience. An audience of one. You’ve paid your money, you have your ticket and you are positively expected to be curious. So centre yourself and feel comfortable about gently observing, about positively scrutinising men and women, the players in front of you here and now.
2. Recite again…
“All the world’s a stage and all the men and women merely players”
This time include yourself. You also are one of the men and women. You are one of the players.
Understand, feel or simply believe that there is no audience. Only a cast of millions improvising perfectly. No separation.
Try it. It’s a wonderful, if slightly scary, perspective.
Alan Mars - coaching in Brighton & Hove 