In this Ted Talk, Amy Cuddy delves into the psychology of body language. More specifically, she discusses how an open stance, such as this:
displays more power than a closed stance such as this:
However, what intrigued me was that she not only discussed how these poses affect how others think of us-- they also affect how we think of ourselves. For example, if someone is ever sad, they should smile. It is not only being happy that makes us smile, but apparently smiling can make us happy.
Similarly, a powerful stance can make us feel more confident than a timid stance.
When you think about it, this is a pretty life-changing concept. Billions of people struggle with feelings of sadness or powerlessness every day. Who knew the easiest solution was to simply. . . smile? To sit up a little straighter? Open up a bit? This not only increases other people's respect for us, but it increases our respect for ourselves.
So next time you feel sad or helpless, try simply adjusting the way you're presenting yourself. And according to Amy Cuddy, after a while, you'll become a more confident, happy person altogether.
"Don't fake it till you make it, fake it till you become it."
-Amy Cuddy
Hi Eliana, I really liked the Ted Talk that you chose. As I watched it, I thought the same things as you like who knew opening up could change not only how people think of you but also how you think of yourself. I really liked the use of your photos to show the difference between a very open and powerful stance versus a less powerful one. I enjoyed your post, great work!
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