Mind Over Matter
Image thanks to A. Pagliaricci ♦
It’s no secret that your attitude is important the success of any pursuit you undertake.
If you start off thinking you’ll fail, that’s probably how it will go down. Heck, why bother?
But if you go into a situation with the firm belief that you will be awesome, you have a better chance of just that: awesomeness.
And it can be just the start of a great little cycle of splendor. The more success you have, the better your attitude. The better your attitude, the more likely you are to succeed.
Unfortunately, a lot of people already feel stuck. It’s hard to get out of a rut, but you have to get the ball rolling.
Surprisingly, it doesn’t take much to start feeling better about yourself. Just a little practice, and practice makes perfect.
And perfect has a tendency to turn into awesome…
Body Language
You can see confidence when it walks through the door. Successful people stand a little differently than those who are down on themselves. Self-esteem just fills a room, almost literally.
Confident people take up more space. They stand tall. They occupy more space than others. They stretch out. You’ve seen them. You know what I’m talking about.
People without confidence tend to shrink. They curl up, slouch, and keep their arms in front of them like shields.
Psychologists Dana Carney, PhD, and Amy Cuddy, PhD, looked into this, and found out that letting your body strike the right pose will trick the brain into being more confident. Taking on a “power pose” for just two minutes will increase an individual’s self-esteem.
So, before you start something, pretend that you’re something great. In a couple minutes, you’ll stop pretending, and start being great.
Language Language
How many negatives do you use in a day? Whether in your speech or your thoughts, that limiting point of view can start to feel like a leash.
Those negatives are probably coming from an adverse place in the mind, and can continue to effect your perspective in a damaging way. But with a little extra thought and effort, they can all be replaced with positives.
For example, if you spend the day thinking “I’m on a diet, so I CAN’T eat brownies,” then the rebellious part of you will pick a fight with your willpower until you have a big chocolate mustache. But if you think “I’m on a diet, so I can eat what’s good for me,” your mind is on a better track for success, accenting the positives about what you’re trying to accomplish.
Get rid of “no” and “not,” and just stretch your vocabulary. You’ll be happier, and maybe just maybe, smarter in the long run.
Fashion Language
They say the clothes make the man, but that’s sexist, and as a feminist I don’t care for that kind of talk.
Clothes make the person, thank you very much.
Seriously, what you wear can change the way you feel. Who hasn’t been invited to a spontaneous event that was fancier than they were ready for? Everyone else is shiny and sharp, while you are sweat pants or work uniform. And that’s just socially. You can tell who has given up on looking good in their clothes. Not that clothes are everything, but they can indeed build confidence.
Every night, pick out what you’ll wear for the next day. This will give you a chance to test drive an outfit if there are any doubts. Don’t be afraid to put in the extra effort, to look like an alpha dog instead of just part of the pack. You’re playing a mind trick, on yourself and those around you.
And even though this may sound contrary, remember this is all about being yourself: the best version of yourself.
And that’s awesome!