When I watched social psychologist Amy Cuddy’s Ted Talk about how our body language shapes who we are, I was moved, to say the least.
Her candid story about overcoming her insecurities and self-doubt, and the knowledge about body language that she conveyed through her personal story, have both proven to be invaluable sources of information that have stuck with me to this day, the same of which surely applies to the 27+ million people who also happened to watch the 20-minute talk.
In the video, Cuddy explains that when we make specific poses, such as holding our hands on our hips, our body responds biochemically by releasing the hormone testosterone. Conversely, when we make a pose that sees us withered inwards or closed off, our body responds by releasing the hormone cortisol, also known as the “stress hormone.”
For instance, “making yourself big” by doing the wonder-woman pose (hands on hips) for just two minutes before a meeting changes the brain in ways that build courage, reduce anxiety, and inspire leadership. “We tested it in the lab — it really works,” Cuddy said on stage.
