No, I don’t mean go to the bathroom. Actually, you probably should…separate issue though.

What I mean is that you should go to your special place. Do you have one you can take yourself to at a moment’s notice? A place that does not allow the intrusion of worry or fear?

It’s a high-powered tool to have in your arsenal of life. The best part: You don’t need a builder’s permit to construct your own. Just time and a little imagination.

I sorta stumbled upon mine. I sat down visualizing the countryside I’ve yearned to live, and as I visually constructed its surroundings, it hit me. I found my perfect, peaceful place. I visit often.

I journey there to prepare myself mentally—usually before a presentation to slow my brain down. I go there when life drains me, too. Sometimes I go there just to go there. And why not? It’s gorgeous.

Do me a favor. Whip out your blueprints and let’s start drafting yours.

Here are some things to think about when assembling your own:

• Indoor or outdoor?
• What time of the day? (Early morning when the moon is still lit just as the sun is peeking over the mountains?)
• What season?
• Are you alone or do you have guests? (hopefully invited)
• What color is the surrounding environment?
• Is there a lake? An ocean? River?
• Are you seeing everything in first person? Or perhaps watching yourself enjoy the peace from afar or from a bird’s eye view?
• Are you touching anything? (no, not that)
• Is the water flowing through your fingers or the wind cruising against your skin?

In the book The Power of Myth with Joseph Campbell, the mythology master, he talks about having a sacred place, your place of bliss. And remember the movie Happy Gilmore? He goes to his “happy” place. You know it’s the real deal if Adam Sandler did it…in a movie.

Alright, once you get this place up to code, set the tone. Here’s how. Free yourself from all that is negative. Fear is not allowed. Welcome the thought of losing everything that you have in life—even your life. Be okay with it.

Impatience or hurriedness? Get that $h#t outta here.

Criticism? Laughable. It couldn’t even come close to penetrating this place. Fear of making a mistake? You’d grinningly make a thousand of them and move on to the next.

Basically, nothing can bother you there. N-O-T-H-I-N-G.

Well, that’s not 100% true. There’s been times that a virus has breached my blissful estate. But it’s rare and I send the clean-up crew right away to haul away the hell. Do likewise if yours gets hijacked.

So there you have it. Peace in the middle of hell. Build it. Protect it. Use it.

It works.

P.S. You know what else works? These 7 tips to help put your fear of public speaking in check. The truth is, nervousness only blocks the audience from connecting to the real you. That’s no bueno. Get them here for free.

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