I have been speaking (and singing) in front of (and for) large groups ever since I can remember: in church settings, elementary school (putting on plays), college, social clubs, flea markets (selling products), networking events, yoga and music festivals (as emcee), and health fairs. I am no stranger to the stage. But, we can all refine and polish our public speaking and presentation skills, I am no exception.
I read an article today that prompted me to make a list of my tips, based on my experiences:
Before you speak
Know your subject well, yes do your research
Be able to defend or argue your story from multiple perspectives
Write down your speech and remove any filler words or phrases
Practice your speech in front of a mirror
When tempted to use, “you know,” “uhm,” or such just BREATHE (this space is necessary to slow your speaking rate down, as well as give the audience time to rest, make notes, and such)
Practice your speech in front of one or two people and ask for their feedback on how to improve it
Grand tips for speakers and presenters
Day of your speech
Meditate and expand your Energy out to ALL
Greet attendees or meet as many people at the event as possible, shake hands, fist bump, kiss babies, etc. (okay, maybe not kiss babies post-COVID times, but you get the idea)
Ease any jitters or “butterflies” using Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT), Jin Shin Jyutsu (JSJ), or such (even humming to yourself works)
Once on stage, tune into your heart center and share your story from “that place”—from your soul
Look at some audience members from different sections of the room
Make eye contact with friendly “light” faces
Provide VALUE— never tell a story that doesn’t make a point (Thank you, Les Brown)
Involve your audience, ask “Have you ever…” or “Has this ever happened to you?”
Smile and laugh genuinely, when it fits
If you ever feel nervous, off track, forget what’s next, or self conscious, be wuiet for a moment and breathe, focus and speak from your soul, not your ego
Add color and depth to your personal stories, but don’t drone on, complain, or get caught up in negativity
People want to hear what you learned and how you grew from overcoming adversity
Don’t assume you know your audience—now, on Clubhouse, you probably won’t know them at all, and people are quite multifaceted these days
At the end of your lecture, bow and authentically with humility thank your audience for hearing you—they gave YOU moments of their lives
Meditate on these words. Let me know what changes for you in a week. I love reading your comments!
The Nine Noble VirtuesHonor your elders (statue of Native American elders)Diurnal cycleJesus in the centerAlways consider PerspectiveMandala drawingWalk a mile in another’s moccasins Consider the relicsCompleted Mandala – We Are All Connected The healer in me, honors the healer in you. Medicine wheel; Sedona AZBe creative. Give back to nature.ALL paths are merely suggestions.Symbols remind and instruct us.To ground us. To guide us.Even about how to heal ourselves.And learn new ways. An Iris is miraculous.Activate your DNA daily. Feel the Godbumps (like goose bumps, but deeper).Share your soul with others.About your soul family.And if you feel hurt… forgive yourself and your others.Your vibration is ALWAYS key.Connect with a tree. Even through a window.And remember, even the most spiritual have to buy food, and take out the trash. Namaste.Hold hands. Whenever you get the chance.
Tips for staying Connected
Walk outside
Smile at someone (even if you have to fake it)
Say something to someone
Write someone a note
Hug someone
Hold someone’s hand
Help someone
Chat online
Bridge the age (frequency) gap
Join a group (yes, even a networking group)
Open your home to someone
Take a class
Grow something
Give something away
And if you burn something, send your kisses with it in the smoke
Hey, if you’d LOVE to talk about this, let’s open a popup room in my club on CLUBHOUSE!
An Amazon bestselling author of two co-authored books: “Transform Your Life Book 2 Inspirational Stories and Expert Advice” and “Energy of Receiving”, both available on Amazon.
I would love to speak at your bookstore, crystal shop, acupuncture / chiropractor office, or other holistic / natural fair or festival. I support healthy lifestyle businesses. For information on both of my books, visit my Amazon author’s page — Click here.
As a Business Analyst, I was always fascinated with “elicitation.” If I didn’t ask a question or didn’t ask it the “right way,” I would miss collecting enough information to help develop a proper solution. (This has been my primary role in Information Technology (IT), for 30+ years).
The more I knew about the software and the issue to solve, the better questions I could ask, and then, fuller answers elicited.
Now, I feel like I’m applying my analytical skills to spiritual work. It feels really good, and somehow ancient! ❤️🦋🌀🎼🙏☯️
Definitions of Holism
If you look up the definitions of Holism, you see it is tied to psychology (because Everything begins with Thought and Consciousness), anthropology, language, and ecology.
There is the belief that “parts of a whole are in intimate interconnection” and that such they cannot exist independent from the whole. The whole considered to be greater than the sum of its parts.
In ecology, Holism says that we interpenetrate and define each other: think the collective mind, societies, cultures, and our environmental footprint on the planet.
How I found Holism
Several years ago, I attended multiple lectures (and Qigong lessons) with Lama Nicholas Packard (see previous articles here and here).
Lama Nicholas spoke about The Dao (Daoism / Taoism) and Holism, before that, I didn’t know much about Daoism (except I had the small book, Tao De Ching, but I hadn’t read it all at that time), and I had not heard of Holism—except I had used holistic health remedies for years. I just had not embraced Holism in a religious sort of context.
Why I care…
The other day a friend sparked a thought in my mind about “why I care about others.” I told her if I didn’t believe We Are All Connected, I may not give a sh*t about others, or their opinions. But I do care. Apparently, it’s how I’m wired. And probably also because I’m an empath. (According to Anita Moorjani, I’m a unicorn 🦄 empath too! But that’s another story).
Consider…
No one owns the waters; no one owns the soil
No one owns the oceans; no one owns the air.
Anything you think you OWN is merely an illusion. Better to grow your soul. Be in alignment. That’s where your POWER resides.
Hey, if you’d LOVE to talk about this, let’s open a popup room in my club on CLUBHOUSE!
An Amazon bestselling author of two co-authored books: “Transform Your Life Book 2 Inspirational Stories and Expert Advice” and “Energy of Receiving”, both available on Amazon.
I would love to speak at your bookstore, crystal shop, acupuncture / chiropractor office, or other holistic / natural fair or festival. I support healthy lifestyle businesses. For information on both of my books, visit my Amazon author’s page — Click here.
A beautiful soul-reaching, inspiring, reverent, vulnerable, and enlightening read!
What Dreams Have Come book cover
What Dreams Have Come is an excellent book! I read it within 24 hours, as it is highly engaging, elegantly, and lovingly written!
Intimately personal
Film producer, co-founder of the Spiritual Cinema Circle, and author, Stephen Simon, with his beloved wife Lauren (who gently crossed over to the Grand Beyond in her sleep), provides us ALL the opportunity to gain a sense of the “Other Side,” while welcoming us into their personal lives (by sharing the synchronicities of how they met, including family photos, and intricate details).
Intertwining honor and love
Stephen and Lauren lovingly crafted a book rich in story that graciously includes the ways they honored and cared for each other (and continue to), as well as demonstrate the ways in which they highly value inclusivity (by bringing us in and honoring their family, neighbors and friends—including my favorite spiritual author).
Emotionallystirring
I cried, laughed, and yes, had jaw-drop moments while reading, What Dreams Have Come. I resonated with much of Stephen and Lauren’s candor and playfulness. (And not to give anything away, but my husband and I often recite our favorite movie lines to each other too!)
There were the touching moments of serendipity and synchronicity built into the way Stephen and Lauren met, and noted all the way through their marriage. The way they shared their pain and triumphs were inspiring to me.
I also really loved the end of the book—totally thrilling! And of course, this is not the end of a love and life together for the Simons.
UPDATE: Please listen to Stephen Simon’s interview with Allison Dubois: Interview
In summary
This book is soul-reaching, and deeply inspiring. It is reverent, vulnerable, and enlightening. I’m in awe of what Love can do—in ALL ways.
Pick up a copy
Buy it here. It is available as a paperback and on Kindle (so you can read on your smartphone).
A bit about me
An Amazon bestselling author of two co-authored books: “Transform Your Life Book 2 Inspirational Stories and Expert Advice” and “Energy of Receiving”, both available on Amazon.
I would love to speak at your bookstore, crystal shop, acupuncture / chiropractor office, or other holistic / natural fair or festival. I support healthy lifestyle businesses. For information on both of my books, visit my Amazon author’s page — Click here.
For many of us, WE wouldn’t even pose this question. And yes, I do draw a distinction between “real” and “exists,” such as if I were to ask, “Does God exist?”—a similar, yet different question.
WE undeniably KNOW God is—but, is the isness real (as in physical matter), or spirit?
Those who know God is Real don’t just believe, but came to this knowing through experiencing God, via our senses, by way of esoteric phenomena that we can only attribute to God.
I believe atheists and doubters have asked either or both questions at some point in their lives, because everyone experiences some things that they can’t explain.
I’m not here to change an unbelievers mind, but I would like to present a slice of my reasoning for believing the answer to both questions is YES.
Defining Reality
Any good survey starts by providing definitions. So, let’s examine my previous articles to provide my thoughts on the definition of “Reality.”
And as interesting as it is to attempt to define Reality it is even more thrilling to ponder a definition of the undefinable enigma, God.
God, Omniscience
I have been sharing my innermost thoughts about God, Omniscience, for several years (since my first audible experience in 2005). Links to my previous articles follow:
In the article, Research Is Shedding New Light on Hearing Voices, the author writes that William James, who established the first experimental psychology laboratory in America at Harvard, concluded:
God is real in the reality of the impacts on those open to the possibility. Considering whether or not to choose such openness, James decided that it is more beneficial to act as if there is a transcendent that gives an ultimate meaning to life.
William James, Philosopher and Psychologist—Father of American psychology.
Granted, not all believers in God claim to have heard God’s voice, such as Neale Donald Walsch, author of the series of Conversations with God books. Nevertheless, most believers do credit God with healings and a variety of phenomenon (such as synchronicities) that cannot otherwise be explained.
My friend and fellow spiritual author, Elliott Eli Jackson also writes of conversations with God in his series of The Sapiential Discourses books.
Sacred Sites
This is a huge topic, and one that I have written about before, so I won’t go into it all again, except to provide a list to my previous articles and say that I continue to reap energetic benefits from the time I spent at Newgrange in County Meath, Glendalough, Ireland, Stonehenge in England, and multiple sites in Scotland, especially on the grounds of Rosslyn Chapel and castle, Isle of Skye, and the Faerie Glen.
As you may recall, I wrote an article, https://sheilamurrey.net/2019/04/19/a-surreal-vision-of-soul-departing/ after my dad died (crossed over to the Grand Beyond), which was quite the profound experience. That surreal experience, as well as others regarding my still born sister, Christina (link in the section: Metaphysical Experiences), lend to my knowing of Life After Death, and add to my beliefs of Omniscience (my name for the unknowable Dao, or God).
Friend, film producer, co-founder of the Spiritual Cinema Circle, and author, Stephen Simon has now, published a book with his beloved wife Lauren (who crossed over to the Grand Beyond in her sleep). I am so thrilled their book, What Dreams Have Come: Loving Through The Veil, is available on Amazon.
Update: The Kindle version is available! I have read it and have a book review in process! Love it!
What Dreams Have Come book cover
Also from the same Psychology Today article,
Studies with non-clinical populations have suggested that people are especially likely to hear hallucinatory voices during times of loss or bereavement. In one study, 30% reported hearing the voice of their deceased loved one within the first month of their death, and 6% still heard them a year later. In another study, 13% of persons heard the voice of their deceased spouse, including some who had been widowed up to 40 years prior to being interviewed.
To date, thanks to the metaphysical experiences I’ve had, I have learned that we’re never alone. This knowing gives me eternal peace. The following articles offer a glimpse of the experiences I’ve had:
Because I just can’t put all my trust and faith in any ONE person, concept, or teaching anymore, I have turned towards Spirit to lead and guide me.
I consider all I have learned up to this point in my life, as guideposts. Like training wheels help a child learn to ride a bicycle with proficiency and under self locomotion, that is how I view all religious instruction. Good for a time, but once you’re strong and steady in your knowing, and you have fully integrated Spirit, God, Source, Divine Essence, live the Dao, accepted the garment of the Christ, etc. you’re walking your path.
In closing, for now: ALL of this leads me to more study and live more in tune with nature, as I seeOmniscienceEVERYWHERE. I am strong and steady in my walk. ❤️🦋🌀
An Amazon bestselling author of two co-authored books: “Transform Your Life Book 2 Inspirational Stories and Expert Advice” and “Energy of Receiving”, available on Amazon.
