In a world dominated by technological advancements, there’s a simple, no-tech life hack that promises to bring about significant changes in your life. Joseph Geni, a reviewer, introduces us to the transformative power of a two-minute posture change in a captivating talk by Morton Bast. This life hack revolves around the intriguing concept of power posing, shedding light on how our body language can influence not only the way others perceive us but also how we perceive ourselves.

Body: Bast encourages the audience to conduct a quick body audit, asking them to observe whether they tend to make themselves smaller or adopt powerful, expansive postures. The focus is on understanding the subtle cues our bodies give and how these nonverbal signals play a crucial role in shaping our lives.

The Fascination with Body Language: Bast emphasizes society’s fascination with body language, particularly in how it affects interpersonal interactions. From awkward glances to firm handshakes, nonverbal cues can leave a lasting impact on our judgments and decisions. The talk delves into the realm of social science, exploring how body language influences meaningful life outcomes such as hiring, promotions, and even legal judgments.

The Power Dynamics of Body Language: As a social psychologist, Bast unveils his interest in power dynamics and nonverbal expressions of power. He explores the concept of power posing, demonstrating how adopting expansive postures can mirror power, confidence, and assertiveness. The parallels drawn between human and animal behavior highlight the universal and ancient nature of these expressions of power.

The Experiment: To substantiate the impact of power posing, Bast and collaborator Dana Carney conducted an experiment where participants were asked to hold either high-power or low-power poses for two minutes. The results revealed not only changes in hormonal levels but also significant variations in risk tolerance, demonstrating the potential of power posing to influence behavior.

Application in Real Life: Bast then takes the concept beyond the laboratory and suggests practical applications in real-life situations, particularly in evaluative scenarios like job interviews. By incorporating power posing before entering stressful situations, individuals can potentially alter their mindset, presenting themselves with confidence and authenticity.

Overcoming Impostor Syndrome: Drawing from personal experience, Bast shares a poignant story of overcoming impostor syndrome. He emphasizes the importance of not just faking it until you make it but faking it until you become it. The narrative underscores the transformative power of consistent, confident behavior in shaping one’s identity and overcoming self-doubt.

Conclusion

In just two minutes, power posing emerges as a potent tool to bring about positive changes in our lives. Bast encourages everyone to not only try power posing themselves but also to share this science with others, especially those who may benefit the most from a simple, no-tech approach to empowerment. Ultimately, the message is clear: tiny tweaks in our body language can lead to significant and meaningful changes in our lives.