heart-centered

Antoinette Tuff: a heart-centered speaker who changed the world

Antoinette Tuff: a heart-centered speaker who changed the world 0

by • Communication, Listening, Media Interviews, Public Speaking, speech • Tags: , , , , ,

By now you’ve heard of Antoinette Tuff. She’s the elementary school bookkeeper in Decatur, Georgia, who prevented a school massacre on August 20, by talking to the young disturbed gunman. If you haven’t heard the 24-minute recording of her 911 call, you can listen to it here on this YouTube video:

The second half is especially amazing, and I was wiping my eyes by the end. I keep saying that people who speak the truth from their hearts, and share it, will help to heal the world. This is a real example of that.

What she said followed what I call “The Five S’s”:

1. She was Spiritual. Two days before, her pastor had preached a sermon about being grounded with the Lord. Monday and Tuesday morning, she did that grounding prayer before starting her day.
2. She was Story-based. She told the gunman about her husband leaving her, that she had considered committing suicide when that happened, and that she had a disabled child. She also told him that she had been able to rise above those thoughts and prosper.
3. She was Selfless. She cared about his well-being, telling him he didn’t have to die that day, and that she would stand in front of him when the police came in so they wouldn’t shoot him.
4. She was Sincere. She meant every word she said. She started off calling him “sir,” but ended up with “baby.” She told him she loved him.
5. She was Skilled. Tuff was one of three people in the front office who had taken training about dealing with guns in the school.

By being her best, heart-centered self, Antoinette Tuff literally changed the world. The gunman never got to kill anyone with his AK-47 and 500 rounds of ammunition. We didn’t have young children and teachers losing their lives. We didn’t have yet another round of media frenzy over a tragedy.

But she also changed the course of the conversation about preventing violence. After the Sandy Hook shooting, Wayne LaPierre of the NRA famously said, “The only thing that stops a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun.” Antoinette Tuff is a good woman who didn’t have a gun. And she prevented a massacre.

This is what is possible when good people share what is deep in their hearts. We’re all capable of greatness. Can you imagine how the world might change if we’re all willing to fully be our best selves?

I’d love to hear what you think! (To access the comments section, click on the article title, and comments will appear at the bottom.)
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What does it mean to speak from your soul? Click this link to access your free report and a “Soul-sheet” to help you tell your story.

You’re already a great speaker!

You’re already a great speaker! 1

by • Communication, Public Speaking, speech • Tags: , , ,

Everyone can communicate. Even babies know to cry when they want something. Each of us can talk on and on to friends and family about something we find interesting.

So why does the thought of public speaking induce fear and incapacity? Why are perfectly intelligent, loving, caring people turned into tongue-tied nervous Nellies when talking to an audience?

If you’re on this website, you’re probably a spiritually minded thinker. So you may already understand that there’s a thought-trend wandering about in human thought that tries to hide our perfect, divinely created selves. And one of the ways it does this is by saying we exist on our own – apart from any kind of loving divine influence that created us. Just when we should be the most aware of our divinely impelled message and the need to share it (such as when getting up to speak!), this wandering thought says we have imperfect selves that will be exposed as frauds when we open our mouths. It tells us we don’t know enough, that we look ridiculous, that everyone is waiting for us to make a mistake, and on and on and on…

But it’s a lie!

You are created to be amazing! And with the ability to share an amazing message with other amazing creations of the divine.

You are already a speaker who is spiritual, selfless, story-based, sincere, and skilled.

I believe that everyone already has the innate capacity to share their important message with an audience. My method of coaching is to uncover and eliminate fears and limitations that would tie you up in knots and claim that you don’t have that capacity.

In order to make this simple, I’ve created a chart called The Five S’s. These are the qualities you already have, and that we will work to uncover and polish so they gleam. As a result, your audience hears a heart-centered speaker who is:

Spiritual – You inspire your listeners with a spiritual level of communication. You want to heal the world by sharing your message. Your spiritual qualities such as insight, compassion, humor, gentleness, strength, courage, and humility shine bright for your audience.

Story-based – You tell your authentic story. You communicate by telling stories to back up your information. You understand that the core of sharing a message has always been storytelling.

Sincere – As a communicator you’re believable, authentic, and honest. Your speaking style is based on you and who you are in the world, not some preconceived idea of what a public speaker should be. People want to listen to you because you touch their inner core.

Selfless – You’re so blessed to share your message that you’re not at all nervous. You focus on your audience’s needs and are willing to leave your comfort zone.

Skilled – You have excellent presentation skills that keep the attention of your audience. You use your breath support and voice properly so they enhance your message. Your body language enhances your message.  

When you work with me, we clear away the false ideas about your speaking ability so the real you that’s already there can be seen, heard, and have your proper effect on the world.

Be the speaker your message deserves!