20 [Really Good] Questions with Mitch

Today I’m getting you a strategy that will boost your confidence in 2 minutes. That’s right. It’s a simple step you can take to increase your feelings of confidence, well-being and focus! It’s a concept straight out of the growing field of study known as “Micro-Resilience.” These tools enable you to create “positive psychological changes which lead to more energy, engagement and joy in the face of life’s challenges. And who doesn’t want more energy, engagement, and joy in their lives? So let’s get to this! Listen To The Podcast: RESOURCES: DREAM THINK DO Episode 172: Post Traumatic Growth - www.mitchmatthews.com/172 BOOK SUGGESTION: Micro-Resilience: Minor Shifts for Major Boosts in Focus, Drive and Energy by Bonnie St. John RESEARCH: Cuddy, A. J. C., Schultz, S. J., & Fosse, N. E. (April 01, 2018). P-Curving a More Comprehensive Body of Research on Postural Feedback Reveals Clear Evidential Value for Power-Posing Effects: Reply to Simmons and Simonsohn (2017). Psychological Science, 29, 4, 656-666. MORE ABOUT THE EPISODE: We’re talking about “Micro-Resilience” and “Power Poses” in this episode. Since we’re all about helping you to dream bigger, think better and do more of what you were put on the planet to do... I’m always looking to experiment with ways to increase our resilience. Some strategies lend themselves to what’s called, “Pre-Traumatic Growth” by Bonnie St. John in her book, “Micro-Resilience: Minor Shifts for Major Boosts in Focus, Drive, and Energy.” These are positive psychological changes that lead to more energy, engagement, and joy in the face of life’s challenges. And who doesn’t want more energy, engagement, and joy in their lives? Specifically... who doesn’t need a quick boost of energy and confidence when we’re heading into a potentially stressful situation: Maybe it was a situation at work: Getting ready for a presentation Going into a difficult conversation Prepping for a job interview Or maybe it was a DREAM THINK DO Scenario: Walking into a NEW class you’ve always wanted to take and finally signed up Pitching your IDEA to that person who might be able to help you make it happen Finally asking her THAT question In this QUICK DTD episode, we’re going to talk about something that’s been labeled “Power Poses.” It’s a technique in which people stand in a way that a “powerful” or “assertive” might stand or hold themselves. By doing so, some researchers have found these “poses” actually increases a sense of confidence and focus. The idea of “Power Posing” was first named and described in a paper by Dana Carney, Amy Cuddy, and Andy Yap in the journal, Psychological Science. In their initial research, Carney, Cuddy, and Yap asserted that “High-Power Poses” produced an increase in testosterone (which causes an increased sense of confidence and focus) and a decrease in cortisol (which tends to reduce a sense of anxiety). These researchers have continued to produce studies and books on the subject. Now, I’ll be the first to admit that some of their underlying science has been disputed. And some researchers really push back on this concept. BUT... that’s where our “experiment” will come in. I want you to give it a try. I can tell you that since I don’t have an easy way to check my own testosterone or cortisol, I’m not 100% sure my rates change in the slightest. BUT I can tell you that I’ve been utilizing the “Power Poses” for the last year or more... and it’s made a difference. And even though some researchers might poo this and/or consider it a placebo effect... I can tell you that I’ve benefited from it significantly. So, I wanted to share it with you! In this episode, I’ll walk you through some specifics and scenarios... then I want you to try it out. Comment below and let me know what you think! Real deal... hocus pocus... or something in between? I can’t wait to hear from YOU! Comment below and let me know!