As reported by Frank Bures in the Scientific Mind, our posture affects the we feel about ourselves, a study suggests. If we "pose" in certain ways, it affects our hormone levels adjusting to the pose we take. For instance, If we put our feet up on the table, as if one is in charge--it makes the person feel more powerful and and produces a drop in the stress hormones.
Improving Posture and Poise to Improve Confidence
"Studies have shown that when you take up a confident posture you begin to feel more confident. As you look and feel more confident you act more confident and people will in turn treat you with more respect. As people around you start to react differently to your new found confidence it fuels your self-image and you become even more confident. It creates a powerful cycle that if maintained can steadily improve confidence over time."
http://ezinearticles.com/?Improving-Posture-and-Poise-to-Improve-Confidence&id=5474104
And
Posture
By Donald Dalton
In every moment we are awake, we can choose the way we want to feel. It starts with our thoughts and emotions. Our body then adjusts to match these thoughts and emotions. If you want to have a more positive outlook on your life, look at your posture when you sit, walk and the way you move. Walking with your chest out and your head in line with your shoulders will bring you more confidence and little changes to the way you sit, stand and carry yourself in general can have a huge impact in how others treat you.
Take a moment right now and think about a sad person sitting in a chair. How do they look? Is their head up or down? Are they sitting up straight or are they more slumped over? Now let us imagine this is someone you love like a family member. How do you approach them? Do you come in all smiling and happy or do you approach them more passively? Now let us change the example slightly and say that they are angry. How do they hold themselves? Do you feel like approaching them or not? What if they are happy? How are they sitting in the chair and how does your approach to them change? The posture that others have effects the way we treat them. It also effects the way others treat us.
http://www.dondalton.com/posture.html
So what does this mean for the person who is verbally and emotionally abused by partner?
It means that if you hunch over, avert your eyes, shuffle your feet and mouseily slide past your partner you are acting like a victim, weak, afraid and subservient. You are acting like a target and you increase your chances of your partner taking things out on you.
How should you act? Try holding your head high when you talk even when he is angry. Look just to the side of brow but keep your gaze steady when you talk. You don't look an abuser right in the eyes because subconsciously males take that as a challenge. You are not challenging them, you are simply not being subservient. When you break eye contact, look to the side--never down. If you look down to break eye contact you are submitting. With a person who is used to brow beating you, it is best to hold your ground at every opportunity.
When you sit in the living room and you are feeling especially vulnerable, try propping your feet up on the coffee table. This is a dominant position and will release hormones that help you feel more powerful and confident.
Putting your hands on your hips is another power position. Try these three things--head high, looking them int he face but not the eyes when talking, propping your feet up on the coffee table and putting your hands on your hips--do this routinely for a few days and see the difference in how you feel. Then look for other power positions. posture, and poses.
Little things sometimes make a big difference. Comment and let us know how it affected you. In fact, try putting your feet up now!
