Liv - because "Me no spik Angleesh!"

Delicious - because miserable life never worked for me.

I tried it for so long. I was really persistent. I was even good at it - worried, self-conscious, anxious, small and fearful. It never worked for me! Never!

My mom was a physicist, devoted to Einstein. Somehow, we grew up with his sayings.
He said that insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. Therefore, I decided to try it Delicious! I decided to challenge my insanity.

This is the answer! This is why Liv Delicious!

If we have to live anyway, then why not Liv Delicious™?

Let’s break some rules! Let’s add juicy spiciness and create experiences that feel just awesome!

What kind of life do you want to live? What do you dare yourself to have, to be, to do?

Honestly, I don’t want to (just) live. It sounds dry. Live one day to another? No, not me! (Not anymore).

I used to live, just like a plant lives; a normal, simple, comfortable life, with a few ups and a few downs. It was a safe comfort zone, but something was missing… ME… I was missing in my own life.

Afraid of making mistakes, I would not thrive, I would just dream of it – taking action was too challenging, and too scary.

Who would not dream of a happy, sunny life with constant growth? I certainly did. Actually, it was a HUGE dream to just think of flying in an airplane. Life in Europe does not “require” flying. Especially in Croatia, and especially in my family and the way I was raised. We would just drive or take a train ride.

But, I was longing to fly, to visit other countries, continents, to hear foreign languages spoken in their native environment. I could only wish for  tropical views, and Asian faces surrounding me… What a fantasy!

As I would watch the Oprah show (back then, it was on Croatian TV only on Saturdays), my eyes would be filled with tears of respect and honor as I would see her helping other people and making a difference. Wow, I only wished that I could be a part of that…

I thought that everybody who spoke English was smarter than me, better than me, more blessed than me. Why? Because, all of the cool books, and all the great knowledge was given in English. All of the opportunities were available to those who spoke English. That’s what I wanted to master.
Well, we had an English class at school, but the boys in my class were such bullies, that I never focused on the class, but on self defense!

Then, finally, I got one amazing book. It came in two versions: one in Croatian and the other in English. I was so fascinated with the topic that I would read the one in English, and when I didn’t understand something, I would help myself by reading the Croatian translation.

It took me a while to complete the book – but the next time I read it – I was looking at the Croatian version less… and less and less…

>> Fast forward a few years from then...

It was 2001. I was living in Tokyo, with a fear of speaking English to native English speakers. I was terrified of just the thought that they would hear my accent and judge my imperfect vocabulary.

Speaking English with Japanese, Indian, Scandinavian or any other nationality was a peace of cake – smooth and easy… but not to English-born people.

After all – “Me no spik Angleesh.” I’d feel this heaviness in my stomach, a bulb in my throat, fog in my head, and a great desire to faint… I would not say more than “A-ha,” “…hm...” or  “…eeerrr…”

Since the fear was just getting worse (and it made no sense), I decided that I was ready to clear that. What could make a difference? I was very talkative and I knew that it was not about speaking in general, but rather about that specific issue.

I wanted to find a way to be able to make it easy! I tried affirmations, deep breathing, imagination, speaking along with movie characters, you name it… Nothing ever helped. I was just unable to speak English to native English speakers!

Finally, I found out about the “funny miracle” - EFT – it said “try it on everything” and “effective for phobias.”

I did my tapping procedure (clearly described in the free EFT manual,) and felt a little better, but I didn’t know if the problem was still there. Testing was the key – going out to the real world and speaking with “Natives.”I went down to the train station, always busy in Japan, filled with all kinds of people and the first “white” person I met, I stopped and asked: “Excuse me, where are you from?”
The stranger simply replied, “New Zealand.” “Cool!” – I said, and emerged into easy conversation that lasted a few minutes. I was cured!!! I even had fun!

It was not until I decided that I didn’t have to be afraid and that maybe I was good enough, that I did step up and chose a different reality!

I used my biggest stumbling block and turned it into a stepping stone! Thanks to EFT!
Can you believe that? All those lonely, scary nights with a tight stomach… It was all gone! Just done – over! No more! What a Delicious miracle!

Today, I live in Hawaii, with a heart filled with gratitude to Gary Craig and EFT; I have my private practice, helping people to Liv Delicious™!

Also, it is important to say, that I am a distinguished member of Toastmasters International and a winner of the State of Hawaii Table Topics impromptu speech contest – in English in front of native English speakers! Now, that’s Delicious! (see photo)

EFT has helped me overcome language self-consciousness; it even made me LUV this cute imperfection of my accent. In memory of that, I dedicate this web name to celebrate victories and to Liv Delicious™!

Yes, yes… it should be spelled “Live Deliciously” but I am breaking rules again…Want to know more about my journey? Check out the story of Helena.

Want the eBook version of Me no spik Angleesh (Afraid of Speaking English)? Click here to download.