Standing in front of a group of people to present an idea, project or even just tell a story can be terrifying. When we’re scared we can have a physiological reaction such as going blank, having a pounding heart or a dry throat or just wanting to run away.

This is our fight, flight or freeze reaction which some call an amygdala hijack. It’s a survival mechanism that is as old as our brain and helped us survive in dangerous situations.

A lion may not be lurking in the bushes but when we feel fear, our brain still reacts as though it is. Our fear today comes from something as simple as a door slam to a public talk to a job interview or presentation. These are the lions lurking.

So, what can we do calm our amygdala? Simple: take a breath. This is a proven technique to calm your nervous system and allow time for your neocortex to come online and stop your amygdala from taking control.

So, next time you’re feeling the fear, breathe.