The Brain Listens to your posture.
Did you know that your body is always communicating with your brain? Remember back when your mom or dad would tell you to stand up straight with your shoulders back? Well, they had a point.
There is something called embodied cognition which refers to the relationship between our mind and body running 2 ways. Our mind definitely influences how we move our body but the form our body takes also triggers our mind and influences our mood.
While it might be true that you are sad when you are sitting with your shoulders rounded and slightly bent downward, it is also true that you are sad because you’re sitting that way.
A number of studies have found that posture influences negative thoughts and memories. There is evidence that suggests that depression has risen in our country as more jobs have required sitting for longer periods of time with our heads tilted downward looking at the computer. Even gaming for long periods of time puts the body into a negative thought posture and can increase a depressed mood.
In 2012, Amy Cuddy gave a wildly popular Ted Talk where she taught a “power pose” and how using this easy skill 2 minutes a day could increase your confidence. “Fake it Until you Believe It”. Look it up, its a great talk! :)
So here is an easy skill, once you have felt your emotion, named it, and given it enough time, change your body. Take a cold shower, go for a run, go for a swim, do jumping jacks, or simply lift and drop your shoulders and then sit up straight taking in a deep breath.
And don’t forget your smile it can change your mood as well. 🙂
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