CHALLENGE OF THE WEEK

CHALLENGE OF THE WEEK: Power Pose Challenge: 2 minutes every day practice a power pose!

Studies have shown that if you “stand in a superhero pose before a job interview, big presentation, or a really hard task, you will not only feel a lot more confident, but you’ll perform measurably better.”

And the best part is – it only takes a couple of minutes to work! 

Do I have your attention now?

When you are genetically predisposed with higher levels of testosterone and lower levels of cortisol (both men and women), you’re more likely to be more confident, assertive, less anxious and generally the kind of person who can handle situations under pressure well, all due to better hormone balance.

But for those of you who aren’t that lucky (which is many of us), research has shown that physical cues such as body language can impact performance and improve how you feel in your own skin within minutes!

Amy Cuddy (picture below) is a Harvard researcher who is responsible for spreading the whole story about “power poses” and how you can benefit from them.

In one of her studies, she learned that certain poses increased testosterone by 20% and decreased cortisol levels by 25% in just a few minutes. This means, that on demand, you can shift your hormone levels to help you in any situation you want!

How can you use this information practically in your everyday life?

Simply stand tall like a Superman or Wonder Woman or any other superhero you prefer for at least two minutes per day.

You know how they do it – chest out, hands on the hips, legs slightly spread, chin up…

You may also close your eyes and focus on your breathing as a part of your morning ritual.

If you’d like to check out Amy’s Ted Talk, it’s definitely worth it!  www.ted.com/talks/amy_cuddy_your_body_language_shapes_who_you_are

Are you up for giving this a try?  Your challenge this week is to perform a power pose each day this week for at least 2 minutes!