I’ve read in Jordan B. Peterson’s book 12 Rules of Life about how important our physical posture is in sending a message about our status in that society. He is fascinated by lobsters and he describes how they stand after a fight. The winning lobster stretches as much as he can to look bigger whilst the loosing lobster tries to look as small as he can.
“WTF is this having to do with humans?” Well, think about this for a moment. Whenever you see a person walking with his/hers back straight and with his/hears head up, you’ll probably think about that person that he/she has a lot of self confidence, optimism and strength. In short, you’ll probably think that the person you’re noticing has the balls to do whatever that person wants. But whenever you see someone walking with his/hers head down and crooked, you’ll probably think about that person that he/she has some problems and things are not looking good. Also, you’ll probably think about that person that he/she is sad, anxious, shy and maybe a little depressed.
Our body posture sends signals about our inner state and I’m not even talking about body language as a whole. Just this standing straight versus standing crooked is enough to create a certain first impression which might be enough to open or to close certain doors.
Of course that Jordan recommends we should always walk as straight as we can. Related to this, Will Smith says that he walks like he deserves anything this universe has to offer. I personally catch myself walking crooked from time to time, but whenever I realize this, I’m straightening up. Have you ever paid attention to your body posture? Is so, do you walk straight or crooked?
As a teenager I used to walk through dodgy areas late at night and often took scary routes across lonely fields and down dark alleyways, and I was always very aware of how I walked. I instinctively knew, even at a young age, that the way I walked determined whether predators saw me as prey or not. I always walked with confidence and purpose and, thankfully, it served me well!
Awesome! I wish I’ve known this when I was younger, but it’s never too late to make a positive change in your life.
I walk crooked but that’s because my hip gets out of place, lol. Seriously, though, I get feedback on both. Generally, I’m told I exude confidence, but there are definitely days when I walk looking at the floor. I want to avoid contact.
We all have days with an empty self confidence tank, but we manage to fill it up 🙂
A little bit of both. I try and be mindful of my posture, but sometimes I lose the mindfulness :-p
I know that feeling. I’m losing it too from time to time.
bad posture from 14 yo …lol that’s why am not a Will Smith 😱☕️😂
😂😂😂😂😂
Yep, that’s why. :))
gosh… now I know the reason :))
This is something I really pay attention to when I’m travelling on my own in foreign countries. I always try to look like I know what I’m doing and where I’m going, even when I don’t.
I’ve never thought about this, but you have an interesting point here.
6ft 3, if I walk too tall then doorways are a risk
Hahaha….That was my Dad’s problem, but he still entered a room with such confidence. He commanded presence with that kind of height and I bet you do too.😃
I will call it ‘occasional’ confidence but other people can think you are more confident than you are. I’m happy to accept that 🙂
Damn, you’re tall. How do you walk outside when no doorways are around?
When I was under tremendous stress, I walked hunched over. Now that I’m in a better environment, my posture has improved a lot. My posture has been a problem since I was 14.
This improvement of your posture has been conscious or unconscious?
Unconscious
Awesome!
Today is completely different than even a couple of years ago. Back then it was impossible to hold my head up. If no one was around I could straightened up but any place or people that made me uncomfortable my head would drop and I would stare at the ground. Nowadays I don’t think about how I carry myself. Back then I would criticize everything I did it to the point I couldn’t function. I’m simply dancing through life now and don’t walk like I can run the world, but walk like I’m enjoying myself.
Bravo!
Thank you!
If you walk like you’re enjoying yourself, I’m sure you walk straight.
Maybe, I know I have more bounce in my step.
I can relate. Growing up in Soviet Union we were often forced to pay attention to our posture. I struggled but I’m thankful that I made it a habit to hold my posture. And as I get older I noticed how posture affects not only your emotional health but also physical.
Yes, I totally agree with you. I haven’t mentioned the physical health because I have no deeper knowledge about it, but I know it’s good to stand up straight.
When I walk or stand I always try to remember to pull my stomach in so that helps quite a bit with my posture, and of course, it strengthens the core too. 😃😆
Yes, it does. 😀
Then I just bounce
i’m very body aware, maybe because i practice yoga regularly. yoga is great for a big stretch out.
Can yoga help with inserting some order into thoughts as well? What have you noticed regarding the mind while practicing yoga?
we’re concentrating on our breath the whole time, well, trying to. breathing in, breathing out.
And that creates a state of calm, right?
that crazy monkey on the shoulder mind is hard to calm. no guarantee. but it helps by being in the present in the moment in your body and out of the head. even for part of a second, it helps.
Part of my recovery includes stretching and exercise was to correct bad posture. Definitely think there is a link.
I’m sure it is.
Body posture is so important in our day to day interactions! For me, I’m somewhere in the middle. I slouch but my head isn’t down. People can tell what kind of mood you are in just by how your body posture, facial expression, and gestures are. It’s time we pay attention when we talk about how our non-verbal communication is affecting things!
I totally agree with you! It is time for us to pay attention to those things.
I rarely pay attention to my body posture.It completely change according to environment, if in a comfortable environment I walk with confidence but at crowded places opposite.