How to Overcome Stage Fright

‘There is… aahhh …. something.. aah… I believe…mmm… that….”

STOP! No one is gonna believe what you believe if you can’t say it confidently enough. Normally we stutter only when we lie, not when we speak the truth out, not when we say what we believe.

If there are ten people before you and you are going to tell them a joke, which should take like 20 seconds, people will never give you a single second extra and you will lose them at exactly the second you were supposed to finish the punch line.

The same thing happens when you are up on a stage. People are bound (or maybe even eager) to listen to you at the starting, but you solely must keep them with you till the end.

I discovered a silly little thing the other day. Not many of us have enough confidence to finish our speeches without mumbling, let alone to deliver a good speech we have prepared for! I have seen many of my classmates and friends who chit-chat all day and mix easily with everybody known or unknown, but as soon as they get on the stage, they become surprisingly muted!

I am an introverted person myself but I recovered my stage fright by practising since I was in school. Maybe it is my nervousness. (I read somewhere that nervousness makes some people chattery). Anyway, there is one thing I have in my mind right when I’m on stage, ‘People will listen to whatever I’m going to say. Let’s open my mind and speak it out as I don’t get to do it off-stage!’

Whatever, There are some tips I’m gonna list for you. Just remember that an utter introvert uses these tricks when she is on stage. If she can do it, you can do it thousand times better! Let’s go-

1. Do not look straight at the people. There is a wall or whatever a blank space behind the audience. If the people make you nervous, simply do not look at them.

Or maybe you can look at a known face to whom you feel confident. I once gave my whole speech looking at a single person, one of my teachers, because he used to guide me all the time and he was very friendly. Luckily he was in the middle of the audience seat so it did not look odd. You can do it with your best friend.

2. Smile before you get on the stage. Does this sound weird? A simple smile, even if forced, will lose your face muscle. After that, no matter how much you try, there will be a calm beam on your face which will make you look good!

3. Preparation or no preparation. This is the place where I worked quite hard. Most people will suggest you prepare your speech properly and memorize it so that it will go smooth. In my case, it is the opposite. I was never a good memorizer. I used to forget the exact lines in the middle of the speech and ruin everything then and there. This is why now I just point out, outline the things I want to say and then followed my mind.

Well, here I’m not telling you to do anything certain. If you are a good memorizer then go for it. If you are like me, follow the next step-

4. Get acquainted with the topic. Do some research, find the relevant vocabulary, and know what you really want to say. The more familiar you are with the topic, the more confident you will be on stage! To make it more advanced try to figure out what people or whoever you will speak to will like to hear and include them in your speech.

5. Keep the language as easy as possible. You know how far you can go with your language, do not pressurize yourself. Keep it simple. People are not willing to listen to some unknown ambiguous words. Difficult words and complex sentences make it monotonous. Also, it makes your speech very arbitrary.

If it is a formal speech maybe complex sentences will not do that bad. I told you before to know about vocabulary so I guess that’s it.

6. It’s okay! Even after taking the best preparation, you might stumble. Not only in the middle of a speech but anywhere in life. Tell yourself it is okay to forget things. If you know enough of what you have got to say, just listen to your mind and let it out! Trust me this is the most useful thing I have ever done while giving a speech.

If you want to add some more feel free to comment. If you find this helpful please let me know, I’ll be grateful. Stay tuned!

‘Not Caring’ Brings the Best Out of You

The other morning I decided to write something for a national newspaper. I chose some easy stuff which should not take very long. I made up my mind, took the chair and spent hours writing not a single complete sentence. Each time I wrote a phrase I clearly did hear a ‘laughing sound’ coming from those words as if they were portraying how the editor will laugh at my writing. Whatever, I ended up with nothing that day.

This did not happen only one time, every time I try to write something for someone else I lose my words immediately.

I am an amateur painter and I create at least one painting every day. Last week I saw there is an art competition based on a certain theme. I, with a heavy heart, noticed, that I am not being able to do anything presentable!

I saw people quite extroverts who can chatter all day with literally anyone yet when they have to speak on stage in front of everyone, they stutter! (I’m gonna write on ‘how to overcome stage fright’ very soon. Stay tuned!)

I was wondering to myself how come a person who has so much passion for writing cannot write anything when he actually needs it! Good news my friends, I have the answer now-

I write mostly for myself when I need it. When I really have so many things going on in my mind and I have no way but to write to set them free. As the only reason here is to make myself happy, I don’t have an extra bit of tension over the top of my head. I can use any word I want. It does not matter what language or tone I prefer because nobody ever gonna see it. There are no ‘SHOULDs’ or ‘SHOULD’NTs’ Ah, the pen can move so relaxed.

Cyril Connally, an English literary critic once told, “Better to write for yourself and have no public, than to write for the public and have no self!” I believe it’s not writing only… it’s pretty much anything when you are to give the best of yours. You care too much about what people will think, how they will receive you, what if they will not hear you etc. Pretty normal that it scares you and holds you back.

It is ridiculous that the worse hindrances come from the very thing we are going to work for. Why should one care a lot about people? How come not caring becomes too hard all of a sudden?

The lesson I got is, that whenever you do anything you MUST NOT CARE. I would like to change Connally’s tune a little bit- First you do things for yourself then if the result turns out good showcase it. If it seems funny just do something only for yourself with the passion and zeal you have inside. Let me know the result. Trust me when will not people but you, you will be at your best. Everyone knows that only those be praised and recognised and applauded by people around who achieve the highest.

I leave a little question for you now, ‘If the poets and novelists would not write following their passion, would they have the recognition?

The Bubble of Happiness

Yesterday night, at the dinner table, I asked my father all of a sudden, when he was my age (early 20’s), what he had wished to do with his life. We all grow and cherish an aim, a wish or a dream for our life in our youth, which basically starts from our very childhood. My dad, who is a teacher now, with a little smile, replied that he is now happy to see his family happy. This is what matters the most in his life!

-‘ Yet you had a wish, like other people, what was it? Did you want to be a teacher? Did you want to be in the same place where you are now?’

– “I can’t exactly remember. Sometimes I feel like I got more than I wanted. You see, it’s all about satisfaction. If you don’t know where to stop and say ‘I have had enough you’ll never be able to be happy!”

I nodded. Since past few days, I have been thinking about my life goals, and the pros and cons of my steps ahead. I have literally no idea of where my life is going. But when my father told me that he can’t even remember what he was like at my age, I wonder if that won’t happen to me too!

It could be a lot sad and depressing for dad if he knew that he didn’t end up being what he wanted. He would have got drowned in the river of depression by now. But he put himself together with the presents of life. Or maybe, it is just gratitude. I guess this is one of the things that keep us alive when we have our back against the wall!

I was wondering one more thing- did I just remind him of the last thing he ever wants to think about? He is successful in his career, he has a family, and he tells himself that he is happy, no matter what he wanted earlier in life. He made a bubble of happiness and lives in it, keeping all his failures and sadness outside. Did I just pin my nail in it?

We worry about a lot of things in life. We rush into things so easily and get out forgetting what we wanted in the first place. None of us is perfectly happy, we can not even expect that. Yet nobody can live in his stories of failures either.

Today, I decided to make my bubble. Not now, maybe the day when I will have nothing to rush after. It is peaceful, a practice of gratitude, to have a shield to fight the sorrows which itself is made with sorrows. Some people live in reality, other people live in a bubble of happiness!

The Green Nobel Prize

Do you know there is something called Green Nobel Prize? Here’s a tweet posted couple of hours after the prize 2020 was given-

‘Winner Kristal Ambrose (The Bahamas, 2020) believes that, no matter one’s location, age, race, or gender, they deserve a voice in the fight for the environment.’

It was nearly 2013,  Kristal Ambrose, a 22-year-girl in Bahamas, went on an expedition to see western garbage patch.  How marine debris and lifestyle of the people by the sea-shore were destroying the home of sea lives and inhabitants caught her attention. This particular incident hurt her so deep and she vowed that day to not drop a single piece of plastic in the ocean, ever!

Ambrose knew that she alone cannot save those poor sea lives.  Building up a great team by herself, she founded Ambrose school where she educates youth on plastic pollution and trains them to work for it. Ambrose met with the Environment Minister of the country and eventually, a law banning plastic usages was enacted this year. Not only Bahamas but also some of other Caribbean countries were inspired by this law. Now they are putting same restrictions in their places.

It is wonderful how a simple thought, a single step brought a great change. It took its time, but it wasn’t impossible. Kristal Ambrose came from the black race, she was not rich enough, but she had a sharp intention and a good heart.

Ambrose is one of the Goldman Prize Winners of 2020. This prize has been awarded since 1989 for environment saving contribution. Grassroots environmental activists from six major region- Asia, Africa, Europe, North America, Central America and Island Nations are awarded every year.

The president of Goldman Environmental Foundation, John Goldman said in a statement – “Even in the face of an unending onslaught and destruction upon our natural world, there are countless individuals and communities fighting everyday to protect our planet. These are six of those environmental heroes, and they deserve the honor and recognition the prize offers them for taking a stand, risking their lives and livelihoods and inspiring us with real, lasting environmental progress.”

Goldman chose the perfect word, ‘Environmental Heroes’. Whereas some people love to pluck flowers, some other prefer planting more and more trees. The world must be lied on give and take. What nature gives us is immeasurable. But the question is, how much we think about them!

Here one thing is to mention that this Goldman Environmental Prize is also called Green Nobel Prize. Both awarding and achieving this prize deserve immense admiration. Thanks to Richard A. Goldman for such an encouragement!

Soureces: 1. The Guardian

2. The Goldman Prize. Org

3. gobalctizen. Org

4. ecowatch.com

Aboulomania: Why One Struggles to Make Decisions

Do you ask for permission to your parents before going somewhere? I think the answer affirmative is common among the Asian families. Do you ask your parents before having an ice-cream from your fridge? If you are laughing at this, let me tell you, this type of families exist too!

Though it’s just an ice-cream, those parents would fix when the child can have it, whether he is in a perfect condition to have it or not. These protective parents simply do not want their child to catch cold.

You might often find people of age 25 whose life has been all on their parents. From the toothbrush to the institutions they studied in, everything was chosen by their parents. Now if you ask any of them out, he might answer, “Ah I have to ask my mom first!” Maybe it seems sweet and that person will probably give you an obedient impression, but the reality is, we all have to reach a point when we have to make decisions on our own, this guy will be so screwed up that day!!

We all have to suffer from indecisions more or less. For some people, it crosses a limit, psychologists recognise this as a disorder called ‘Aboulomania’. Funny (or sad) part is they agree that ‘This disorder happens mostly to those people who have overprotective parents‘ Today a mom might compliment her son to be so polite and dutiful, but who knows the next day, in her absence, her son will not be suffering from aboulomania?

Some parents highly discourage or even punish their children for taking any decisions or having choices of their own. Those children eventually get used to depend on their parents and guardians more than needed. This is the root of the disorder. I can’t deny that some people are naturally subservient.

Aboulomaniacs are tend to make everyone happy. In any sort of relationship, they play a passive role. People might just call that person ‘dumb’ but only he knows what he suffers from. Though as far as I read, most of the aboulomaniacs do not realize their problem. I have a friend who cannot take a single decision independently. If I ask her which color she prefers, red or blue, she will look at my face to figure out what answer I will prefer, so that she doesn’t make me say ‘oh-no’. I don’t see she realizes how pathetic this is. For your information, these patients never expresses their disagreements with you. You little disapproval hurts them too much!

Abiding by your parents is one of the best things you can do, still, suffering from something isn’t an option. Talk to your parents sometimes if you have recognise yourself to have this. Talk and try to help the those who you think are badly suffering from this. In the end of the, we stand on our own feet, not anyone else’s.

A habit that will save you from depression

A life has so many things to do with. We, human beings, can never limit how much we are worth. Everyday, we can discover ourselves in a new form. Maybe in a better form, with some new skill or good habit. Or maybe worse, who knows!

It is needless to say that we all would love see a better version of ourselves in the future. That future might be after years or tomorrow, whatever. But how can we really keep a pace with changes? Is there anything that keeps our mind sound everyday, all the time? Is there anything to keep a track of our life no matter what happens?

Life keeps giving you lovely surprises, a lot of unwanted occurrences and what not? Everything we, as human beings acquire, we acquire from life. We cannot control all of it, but how about controlling most of it? Or at least embrace life and maintain our mental health?

Yes there are some ways you can take, some rules you can strictly follow. If you think your life is really falling apart, there is at least one thing you can do, that is creating your personal journal and maintain it regularly.

I do not know what is on your mind right now after hearing this. Let me give you some examples. Suppose you love to watch movies. Specially in these quarantine days you watch movies everyday,  series on Netflix and so on. It is a source of your recreation but did you think it could be the beginning point of your productivity or even some profession too?

You can keep a movie journal, where you can write down your thoughts about those movies. It does not have to be very professional. Maybe it will look like just some childish write-up at first. But if you keep doing it regularly, it will get better everyday. You can keep note on favorite clips, attach photos to make your journal colorful and enchanting.  Someday it will grow your confidence enough to create your own personal blog where you can write on good movies. Movie lovers from different corners of  the world will be your reader. If you love to travel you can maintain a travel-log too. It will be great blog where people will get know a place, many people love to read travel-story. See, how it leads to a  profession?

This is just one example. There are so many types of journals you can keep. If you love drawing, doodling, sketching you can make an art journal. It might  be photography journal where you can attach precious  photos with  a piece of information to each. Hobby journals are fun! If you are interested in cooking you can create a recipe journal, if you have a garden it can be a useful journal on plants and gardening. You can just create one diary and include everything to it if you want.

I was talking about keeping the track of life, right? Do you believe that you actually NEED TO KEEP a journal to balance day-to-day worklife? Think about your goals. Take notes on what you should do. You can keep the record of you daily expenses, find out if you could spend more wisely, you will be able to make better use of your money and save some.  

 If you are on diet, write the chart down, then check everyday if you are really on it. It can be an exercise  journal, health journal where you note down (or at least jot down) everyday’s work out. The notes will help you to go for useful exercises, it will give you a good food habit. Talking about foods, I just figured out that you might be interested in food journals too. The food reviews will knock you later to taste your favorite ones again.

Creating an educative journal will dig you a way to become more knowledgeable. Try to write at least 5lines of paragraph each day which will contain important information with new words. It will strengthen your vocabulary and language skill. It will level your thinking-ability up. The habit of reading and writing improves our attention span and  makes our brain more active.

Personal journal will help you to release mental stress. Almost all the high-iq people have the habit of writing personal diary. It gives one insights about one’s life. It necessarily does not have to be some incidents of personal life or some memory. You can write anything that strikes you. You may write about the path to achieve a goal and how you are doing with it. When you will read those later you will get to know yourself better, create a better vision of life and focus on it. You may write a letter to yourself, a letter to the god which will reflect the purpose of life. Ultimately, keeping journal is good for your mental health. You will be able to ease yourself in depression. I would rather say it will keep depression away from you. Because right then there will be a better understanding between you and life.

Anne Frank did not know what her diary will make her. Can you really see what you journal  will make you some day?

Things I learned from the movie- Catch Me If You Can

You would love to know what happened that weekend, seriously!

Frank William Abagnale, a sixteen year old kid came out of his home after his parents had got devorced. He was smarter than average children his age. He put all his smartness into bank forgery. He also managed to pretend like an actually pilot, a doctor and lawyer time to time.


On the other side, Carl Hanratty, an fbi agent struggles to catch him and failed more than twice.
As I gave you spoiler alert before, I’m gonna tell you what I learnt from this movie. FBI finally caught Frank and put him in the jail. Although he was sentenced for fifteen years, he got out of here after only four years as Carl himself convinced his boss that Frank has a special talent with which he can contribute to the fbi. Yes, as Frank was an exoert in bank forgery, he can check the fraud checks in the bank forgery cases.


I was surprised to see how agent Carl trusted Frank and gave him a chance to live his life in peace. I suppose every criminal is smart enough, all we need is to convince him give to utilise his smartness in something good. I learnt that we should have trust on people and ourselves as well because all diamonds were graphite before a certain process!

By the way I was already a fan of Steven Spielberg. The backgound music and the cinematography brought perfection to the extra-ordinary story. It is indeed a must-watch for the Hollywood lovers. Though as I gave you the spoiler here, you should not miss the subtle chilli flavour of this movie!

The Truman Show: A movie that questions your existential crisis

What if you don’t know that your life is actually a 24hour-breakless-tv show? That it is a happy movie directed by someone else? Here you don’t have to worry about life that much. Millions of people are watching you on tv. You are an inspiring icon to them. The only problem is you cannot make choices of your own as it is all directed by someone else. Would you like to live it? Would you want to know about reality?



Now think in the other way. You’re at your 50’s and you’re tired of your life and annoyed with the shitty reality. Suddenly one morning, this idea hits you- you’re gonna put up a baby and give it a life of peace. No, its not easy to raise a child and give him a life of undisputed happiness, definitely people around him will hurt him, you can’t reserve him from pain. So you decided his life to be a movie without his knowing. It will be telecast all over the world. People will be hugely inspired by his character and his life!



You know what, we people are meant to live the reality no matter how it is. You may give someone a life full of happiness but he will not be contented until he gets to know the reality.
It was a great thought provoking movie for me. You might say that I gave you the spoiler here, but you could just comment it down, whether you prefer a life or just happiness.

6 Tips for Effective Reading and Longer Attention Span


“Once you learn to read, you will be forever free.”
-Frederick Douglas


When was the last time you read a book? What did you learn from there? Can you remember the summary of a story or some pieces of information from the book you read years ago?


It is common to forget little things. One does not necessarily have to remember everything from a book. When you read a book or an article, you are expected to learn something from it. Every good write up has something worth remembering in it. But what is the use of reading if you cannot gain anything from it?


One major problem people face while reading is mind distraction. Many of us find it hard to finish a small book within a day. We spend a good amount of our time on social media. It reduces our attention span. Having too many sources of recreation (specially the ones that does not require much use of brain) can also hinder your reading.
You cannot spend a long time for only one small book, right? You should find some other way to make your reading effective and smarter. Here are some tips for you:

Tip-1 Before you start reading, ask yourself why you chose this particular book. When you will be going through the lines, your subconscious mind will automatically find out the important lines to get your purpose served. In the end, you will be able to meet your needs.

Tip-2 Suppose you did not read any book for months. Suddenly you got a task of reading a 600 pages book and reviewing it within 5days, how would you feel?
Definitely it will be hard for you. Some of have a tendency to study only when the exam knocks. We face a very hard time then!
Here is a secret tip for you. If it is an academic article you can keep a pen and a notebook with you while reading. Write down the important information, at least write down the summary. It is a very worthwhile way to keep things in you memory.
To make it fast, just go through the line with a good speed. You know why you are reading and what you need to remember. Work on those lines only.

Tip-3 Reading daily will help you a lot to be a better reader. Read at least 50 pages a day. Not only will it make you a better reader, but also it will soothe your mind. If you grab a book before going to sleep, you will have a sound sleep. According to a 2009 research study from University of Sussex, reading reduces stress by 68%. If you are suffering from insomnia, reading at least for 30 minutes before going to bed is a must for you!

Tip-4 If you are a new comer to the world of books, if you are trying to build a reading habit now, you are suggested to set a certain comfortable place for reading. Some people love to read on journey, some people prefer to read alone in a quite place. Know your preferences. For a heavy reading better you make a comfortable reading corner in your room. Reading at a same place everyday will make the reading more effective. Specially if you are a student, for academic studies you should set your place up well. You can bring some changes in the setups after a few days if you get bored with it!

Tip-5 After finishing a book or article or any type of reads, try to paraphrase it. Make a summary. You do not necessarily need to write it down. You can just make it in your head. It is a pretty good way to revise what you read. This way you make your version of the book, which will remain in your memory for a long time.

Tip-6 Our parents often suggest us to read loudly. Some of us feel a little uneasy with it, but it is really beneficial sometimes. Reading something loudly will save you from mind distraction. It might take longer, but if you are struggling with holding your attention for so long, you should try it.

People who love reading are definitely advanced in so many ways. Yet it is not easy for everyone to grab a book confidently. Well, not everyone has to have the same hobbies or choices therefore, not everyone is a bookworm. To tell the truth, you do not need to be a bookworm. Just read the things you need. Read a book the way it should be read, that is the best you can do. Hope you reading will be more effective now. Happy reading!

What you learn at schools: theory of base and superstructure by Karl Marx

Suppose you went to to new place for a year, you do not have a penny in pocket, what is the first thing you would search for?

I guess hunger is the most basic problem we have to face everyday. However, you will go out to earn in order to meet your basic needs. You will prepare yourself for work, right? It might be a technology based area, might it be dependent on agriculture. Whatever it is, you will certainly notice that there are some people, or an executive committee (let’s say the government) who own the resources, right? You have to serve them for you own sake!

Now, will you ask yourself why you have to serve them? Why they pay you a small amount while have plenty?

In most of the cases, you will not. When you go to a school, you learn how to conform with the system. When teachers ask you what your aim in life is, they want to hear you dream to be a doctor or a pilot or whatever but never ever a revolutionist- the one who looks into the problems within a capitalist system. They teach you discipline, you learn there how to fulfil what society needs from you.

From educational institutions to charity organisations, no one ever questions a system, because they themselves are the parts of of system.

The way you sold your skills or labor, earned your food is the basic. The way you spend it, education, recreation or whatever you spent the rest of your money for is kind of optional and also related to your earning. The decisions you make depends on the amount of your wage. That’s why a class structure exists. The rich and the poor go to different schools, have different sources of recreation, the lives are quite unalike! The way you earn money, you profession, determines your place in a society and how you will be treated by people!

Now think about a society or a state, yeah, it also depends on its economy. This is why Karl Marx said that the base of a society is its economy. All the other things, from culture to built structure, depends on it. Therefore, he called it superstructure. Within a capitalist system, all other mechanisms are created just to protect the system. When you go to cinema you have to buy popcorn, you must buy your friend something on his birthday, you finish studying you have to run for a good salary, you work 9-5 o clock just to have a minimum salary, why do you never question who made these rules?

Humans are social beings, you are well taught that these rules are divine. The state, the system you are living within are god given. This concept is very important to be made as it will help the reproduction of the resources.

Okay, there is another thing, not necessarily the basic structures defemines everything. Superstrure has an effect on the economy too. It some sometimes brings changes in mode of production. Though the purpose remains the same always.

Well, this is all from me. I will not stop going to my university whatsoever!