Article December 1, 1997 Issue

Public speaking with confidence

Bruce A. Cunningham

Facing up to my first impromptu speech at a public speaking club seemed like quite a challenge. When asked a question on any subject during a special portion of the meeting, the member is expected to get up and speak extemporaneously for two minutes. That whole week I prayed—but not out of fear. My prayer was an expression of gratitude for good ideas, and there were a lot of them.

I found that the more gratitude I felt, the more the ideas flowed. I did manage to do that first impromptu speech all right. It was exhilarating! Gradually I learned to look forward to giving impromptu speeches. More and more I learned to see them as opportunities. I actually started enjoying it!

For me, public speaking starts with God, infinite Mind, the source of all real ideas, communicating directly to man. To express Mind requires humility. You set aside personal ego and fear, and turn fully to God as the source of courage, intelligence, and ability. Obeying Christ Jesus' commandment "Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself" (Mark 12:31) means finding one's own in another's good. I often find that my best interests and the audience's coincide, since the same spiritual concepts are true for us all.

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