Getting a leg up through body language

The way we stand in a room, our countenance, the position of our arms while listening or talking, discloses how we feel internally: whether we see ourselves as mighty and full of potential, or, on the contrary, as miniscule, hollow and shallow beings.

The subsequent step in social relations is that people interacting with us may wind up treating us in a coherent manner.

There are two main attributes that are easy to discern from a person’s body language: the sway they could exert on the one hand, and how stress reactive they are on the other. Leaders throughout history have portrayed themselves as very powerful and not very stress reactive. So, from an idealistic point of view, we all should pursue such qualities to some extent.

But, the interesting point comes when thinking about it the other way around. If our body language depicts how powerful and stress reactive we are, could we model our mind by shifting the way we portray ourselves through our body expressions, and as a consequence, change the way we interact with other people? After deep study on the matter, and with scientific proof to back up the results, the answer is yes; it’s possible to set up our brain, spark a role change, and get a social positive upshot from it.

The pith lies on small behavioral body language adjustments, nuances that we can steadily introduce into our daily routines. The concept behind it is this: fake it till you get it right. After training, we all can cast a sanguine view of ourselves full of cogent reasons to be taken in consideration. The first step is to muster all our strength, and stick at practicing open gestures in private. At the outset it’s common to fidget. The trick is to dissemble and pretend that we feel comfortable with those expressions.

Let’s not worry thinking it’s a meretricious outcome. After muddling along for a few days, we might be able to muddle through and, eventually, start felling good with our newly attained body language.

The next step requires interaction. Let’s outstare someone, for instance, in a waiting room. Let’s also try, very politely, to heckle someone giving a speech at work or university, by raising our hand with assurance.

After heeding these pieces of advice, mulling them over, and resolute rehearsal, we all must find ourselves unyielding and blasé about public interactions, getting a leg up on social competition.