Tonight, I’m attending a posh, invite-only networking event and have to say…normally, I wouldn’t look forward to it. Though I’m outgoing and naturally a conversational person, I find it terribly awkward to be shoved into a room with other individuals, unsure about what to talk. That’s like an uncomfortable first date without a movie or dinner to add some sort of distraction. You’re just…standing there…looking at the other person, hoping they’re as interesting as you hope you are.

Ok, to be honest, when I started this post, I really wasn’t even looking forward to it. But then I remembered something. It’s all about your attitude.

Now, some of us may find it hard to downshift from anxious to calm in one swift move; that’s like going from fourth to first. Truly, though, it can be difficult to try and talk yourself confident—repeating affirmation after affirmation, feeling like SNL’s Richard Smally, not quite believing it but not wanting to give up. I have nothing against visualization and affirmation techniques, quite the contrary. However, for instantaneous transformations, they don’t always work.

What does is repositioning your physiology—your body language.

Take a second and try this.

Stand up and walk around the room, head down, shoulders slouched, staring at the floor. While you’re doing this, imagine thinking about a ballplayer, who just struck out in the world series and now the game is over. How do you feel? Besides silly for trying it, you most likely felt a sensation of sadness, slight depression, or frustration.

Now, take a deep breath and throw your shoulders back, lift your head, smile, and think of yourself entering a castle, where upon your entrance everyone bows or cheers. What’s the difference? Ninety-nine percent of responses will reveal feeling confident, powerful, happy, limitless, and so on.

Just by shifting your shoulders and head and imaging a person whom you want to emulate can make all the difference in how we see the world. AND how others see us! Which perspective will you chose to have today?

(Image source: www.dantudor.com)