What would you do if you knew how much your mind is affected by your body and vice versa? How would you use this knowledge? What would you change? How would it impact your daily life going forward?
I’ve used Amy Cuddy’s TED Talk during my teachings to illustrate the importance of body language. “Power Poses” can make us feel more confident than we might otherwise be. Yoga and deep breathing relax us. These are what Cuddy calls “nudges” toward our own power and presence—namely pretending it comes naturally and exuding confidence.
These habits (and more) are explored in Cuddy’s Presence, my book recommendation for the week. Her background as a social psychologist brings valuable insight to aligning your behavior to your authentic self. By parsing your strengths, values and how and when you feel most natural, you can relax into who you are and express confidence.
Whether you need that peace of mind during a customer interaction, a networking event, in the boardroom or during a dinner party, this book will prove to be an asset in your professional and private life.
Here is the summary on Amazon:
“Have you ever left a nerve-racking challenge and immediately wished for a do over? Maybe after a job interview, a performance, or a difficult conversation? The very moments that require us to be genuine and commanding can instead cause us to feel phony and powerless. Too often we approach our lives' biggest hurdles with dread, execute them with anxiety, and leave them with regret.
“By accessing our personal power, we can achieve ‘presence,’ the state in which we stop worrying about the impression we're making on others and instead adjust the impression we've been making on ourselves. As Harvard professor Amy Cuddy's revolutionary book reveals, we don't need to embark on a grand spiritual quest or complete an inner transformation to harness the power of presence. Instead, we need to nudge ourselves, moment by moment, by tweaking our body language, behavior, and mind-set in our day-to-day lives.
“Amy Cuddy has galvanized tens of millions of viewers around the world with her TED talk about ‘power poses.’ Now she presents the enthralling science underlying these and many other fascinating body-mind effects, and teaches us how to use simple techniques to liberate ourselves from fear in high-pressure moments, perform at our best, and connect with and empower others to do the same.
“Brilliantly researched, impassioned, and accessible, Presence is filled with stories of individuals who learned how to flourish during the stressful moments that once terrified them. Every reader will learn how to approach their biggest challenges with confidence instead of dread, and to leave them with satisfaction instead of regret.”
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