Strike a Pose
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I’m not talking about Voguing and most certainly not encouraging duck-lip selfies, but referring to another mind-body correlation practice known as “power posing.” While my signature move (both on and off the dance floor) used to be “freezing in fear” when heightened anxiety kicked in, I now try assuming a physical stance that signals confidence to signal my mind to follow suit. According to social psychologist and Harvard Professor, Amy Cuddy, who researches power posing and body language cues, when our bodies become stress-reactive, we tend to shut down mentally. Cuddy notes, “Our bodies change our minds, and our minds change our behavior, and our behavior changes our outcomes.” Practicing posturing confidently enables me to psyche myself into mental resilience and subdue anxiety. And I think it’s improved my actual posture.
TROUBLED
Hafiz
Troubled?
Then stay with me, for I’m not.
Lonely?
A thousand naked amorous ones dwell in ancient caves
Beneath my eyelids.
Riches?
Here’s a pick,
My whole body is an emerald that begs,
“Take me.”
Write all that worries you on a piece of parchment;
Offer it to God.
Even from the distance of a millennium I can lean the flame in my heart
Into your life And turn
All that frightens you
Into holy
Incense
Ash.
If you spend your whole life waiting for the storm, you’ll never enjoy the sunshine. ~ Morris West
We’ve seen that loving relationships can reduce stress, anxiety, and depression — a fact that may give the immune system a boost. Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University found that people who exhibit positive emotions are less likely to get sick after exposure to cold or flu viruses. The study, published in Psychosomatic Medicine,compared people who were happy and calm with those who appeared anxious, hostile, or depressed.
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Sometimes, worrying for a few minutes each day can actually be very helpful. Planning the time of the day when you’ll worry is a powerful exercise that’ll help you better manage those ruminating thoughts.
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