overwhelmed. OT

Well, this is somewhat off topic but I am in need of a way to purge my current feelings.

I am running this new program for the Hospital's Children's Mental Health Programs, with this new responsibility comes alot of meetings and presentations on my part about the program.

I had to sit in a meeting today talking about the progress of this new program, and whatnot, I had to explain myself well and talk to all the managers/ Executive Directors of the Adult Services ( addictions, mental health ) and boy was I a nervous wreck.. I got through it but my cheeks were on fire the whole time... does this mean I have high blood pressure or was it just nerves lol?

Here is my problem, I have a mom, who even tho she is loving and will do anything for me, has a crappy way of explaing to me what it would be like if I were thin, and god help her because she is right about her theory.... "when you are overweight people tend to not take you as seriously, or give you credit or think well of  you.... when you are thin aparently people treat you wayyyyy better" ( i have no idea if this is true as I have always been obese...)...

So here I am sitting with this in my mind the whole time I am talking and it is taking a severe toll on my self esteem and ability to speak at big meetings.... and the whole crappy part of this??

I have 4 more HUGE meetings, one with city police department, one with all school principals, one with all school counsellors and one with the youth juvi residence staff...


GULP... how the hell am I going to make it through this presentaions.. not to mention what are people going to be thinking about me the whole time I am presenting.. and probably stumbling on words due to nerves ect...

Sigh.. ok sorry for the random post... just needed to purge these feelings somewhere.

Chanelle,
Sorry to say this but,.... forget what your mom said!!!

I have learned that they will pay attention to you when you are confident in what you say.
The old saying...Believe in yourself and others will believe in you too.

You are more than capable of commanding their attention, you ARE confident and strong.

Next presentation, walk in there knowing that you are helping kids, a much needed program, and that you will be listened to and repected for what you are trying to accompish!!
YOU WILL BE GREAT!!!

I agree with Nice Eyes.  Your Mom may be older, but her statement wasn't that wise.

What people see, is what you project to them.  If you talk and you are confident, and know your stuff, they will listen.  It doesn't matter what size you are.

Their impression will be from the first moment they see you.  So walk into the meeting head up, back straight and confident.  If they sent you to these big meetings, then you know your stuff, and they believe you can get your important message out to people.

Go in confident, and the audience will see a confident smart young woman.  You can do this.

Cathy

Like the others have said, its got a lot to do with confidence!  Confidence is in yourself will be projected (and its sexy as well, lol)!  I now know that I am treated differently now since I lost weight, because of how I acted when heavier.  I avoided eye contact, conversations etc.  It wasn't that people weren't being nice to me, it was the other way around.

You were given this assignment because someone felt that you would be good at it and had enough confidence in you to pull it off.  Prove to them that they were right!

If all else fails, picture your audience in their undies, LOL!

Argh.Public speaking rises again. A common problem.
As other's have said, dismiss your Mother's comments as the tripe they are. Project confidence, "fake it until you make it". The more you do it, the easier it gets. Those people are there to hear what you have to say. Sell them on it, show your enthusiasm in the project and if you miss a word or stammer, people will mistake it for your passion overflowing. Have presence and they will hear you.

Best of luck.  I used to hate public speaking too, then when I had to do it over and over, it's gets to be nothing more than a little flutter and sharpening before you go on.

 well, you do have the choice of pulling you tent pegs and runnng for the hills...  but that's not really realistic is it?  So, pull up the big girl panties and ignore the comments of the rent (as my daughter's friends text about their parents) and do the fantastc job you know you can do!  

as a side note, I had a cousin who was severly obese and a nurse who rose to become the head of nursing at one of Toronto's largest hospitals.  Jeanne would often say she knew her poor food choices were going to shorten her life but she was going to live every minute like it could be her last. She did and made it to almost 80 years of age.  Illnesses that took a terrible toll on her last ten years but while she worked she was a shining example of an empowered woman.  Go girl!  

Two things I've learned over the years are that our mothers will only ever see us as children and we are alot more savy/knowledgable than we give ourselves credit for. 

At 59 years old, my mother still treats me like a 12 year old even though I have raised a wonderful 23 year old completely by myself and have supported myself and my son entirely for the past 41 years.

Forget what your mother said.  Your colleagues at work will see you as the talented, competent woman that you are.  Keep in mind, that you likely know more about the subject matter then anyone else at the meeting.  Give yourself all the credit you deserve and you'll be great.

Best of luck (but you won't need it).

Carol

2 things...

Your mom is right.
but only because you believe it. If you feel like people are judging you and focusing on your appearance instead of what you are saying, then perhaps you are not giving off the confidence that you need to while you are up there. You are the subject matter expert and you know what you are talking about. Dont let your size interfere with your capacity to do your job! Confidence is key! You CAN do this!!

and second....
an old friend of mine has a saying that I love....
"What other people think of you is none of your business"

So true!!!

You are a strong and confident person. If you aren't, pretend that you are. Put on that persona while you are doing these presentations/meetings.

Every time you get through one of these things without crumpling on the floor, you will gain confidence.

You obviously care about what you do, and who you do it for. Let that caring flow from you, and speak from your heart.

You are awesome!!! never stop believing that.

 I think the red cheeks are from nerves.  Believe in yourself and the world will follow.  I do believe there are people who treat overweight people different.  But they are ignorant.  I do not believe that this is the majority of people.  You must have been more than qualified for the job or you wouldn't have gotten it.  I believe you can do it.  It will get easier over time to talk in front of people.  Good luck!