I’ve got a speaking gig in a few days that I’m pretty excited about. I’m lucky that way because I know that for many people, public speaking is a fate worse than death. And while I actually enjoy it, I have to say, I’m not completely immune to butterflies in the stomach, sweaty palms or feeling anxious.
As a mindset coach, I see first-hand how anxiety plays a role in our ability to be successful or not. And for entrepreneurs, there are plenty of opportunities for feeling anxious from making sales calls and ensuring launches go off without a hitch, to minding the bottom line and skirting technical glitches.
But where anxiety got real for me was this past winter when my 15-year-old daughter came to me asking for help. She let me know that she was feeling anxious and it had been escalating. Now it was time to see a professional.
Nothing breaks a parent’s heart more than seeing their child struggle and so in addition to having her see our family doctor, I’ve been on the lookout for tools, tips and techniques that can help her when she’s feeling anxious.
In my search, I’ve come across several things that are helpful for just about anyone, including the trembling entrepreneur!
Since it’s summer and we love to go for frozen treats, I thought I would share something I call the “ice cream technique”.
If you’re feeling anxious about something, rather than try to picture a calm and soothing nature scene, or think about a happy time in your life, try to name as many ice cream flavours as you can!
Try it now and see how many you can come up with.
This is a form of grounding which helps you come back to the present. Essentially, it’s an escape hatch from the anxiety-provoking thoughts in your head. While some people may be more inclined to rattle off their multiplication tables, ice cream flavours are found to be more comforting and add a level of nostalgia, according to researchers.
So the next time the butterflies in your stomach feel more like a herd of elephants, start listing your favourite flavours and see how this technique works for you.
Now I’m off to the freezer to see if I can scrounge up some maple walnut. 🙂
Tag! You’re it! Was this post helpful? I’d love to hear from you in the comments below. And if you think someone else’s life could be made easier knowing this stuff, go right on ahead and share the post too.