INFOGRAPHICPSORIASIS

The Science-Backed Secrets of Greater Confidence

November 17, 2020
The Science-Backed Secrets of Greater Confidence HOW YOU FEEL ABOUT YOURSELF MATTERS The more confident you are, the more likely you are to … • Succeed at work • Solve problems • Stress less • Strengthen your relationships • Stay healthy While most people with lots of confidence are inherently happy, new research shows that unhappy people can still be very confident. They know they're smart, skilled, attractive and “have what it takes” but just haven’t accomplished their goals yet. Need a little more chutzpah to tackle your goals? Little moves can pay off big! • Stop slouching Simply sitting up straight can lead to more confidence in your own thoughts. • Swear (but only when appropriate!) Swearing can make you feel empowered, boosting your confidence. • Move your body It’ll make you feel better about yourself. Take your workout outside to up the self-love even more. • Put on your lucky jersey or charm bracelet It’ll boost your confidence—and lead to improved performance and loftier goal-setting as a result. POWER POSES HELP YOU FAKE IT 'TIL YOU FEEL IT Good news: You don’t need a corner office or fancy job title to feel like your favorite superhero. Research by Amy Cuddy shows that “power posing” or adopting expansive postures, causes people to feel more powerful. 3 Power Poses to Try Right Now [DESIGNERS: LARGE ILLUSTRATIONS FOR EACH OF THESE] 1. The “Executive” Sit on chair with your feet on a desk or table, hands clasped behind your head with elbows out. 2. The “Wonder Woman” Stand with your feet hip width apart with your hands on your hips. 3. The “CEO” Sit on a chair with your knees splayed in a V-shape, one arm resting on the back of a chair next to you. Getting ready for a big interview or presentation? • Close your office door and sit like a CEO, with your legs propped up on your desk and hands clasped behind your head • Try the Wonder Woman in the bathroom stall if you’re in a cube with no privacy • Take up more space on the bus or train on your commute by “manspreading” (as long as it’s not too crowded) • Spend 5 extra minutes in your car after you’ve parked with your legs spread and arm stretched out across the passenger seat Pump Up the Jams Research shows listening to “high power” music boosts confidence, whereas “low power” music has the opposite effect. High power tunes: 50 Cent’s “In Da Club” and Queen’s “We Will Rock You” Low power tunes: Biggie’s “Big Poppa” and Fatboy Slim’s “Because We Can” - It's All About That Bass… Download any song with heavy bass, which promotes more feelings of power than low-bass songs. Be a Piano Man (or Woman) Learning to play an instrument can also give you a confidence boost. One study found that learning to play the piano, in particular, led to higher levels of self-esteem. Did You Know? Self-affirmations can boost your confidence during times of stress or struggle. Why? Because they prevent you from focusing on past failures and help you visualize successful outcomes. 5 To Try (Bonus points if you say them while looking in a mirror, which boosts their effectiveness): [DESIGN: this goes with Did You Know? Section right above, about self-affirmations] “I am filled with energy and joy today." “I have all of the skills to be wildly successful." “I am beautiful and charming—and others recognize it." “I have limitless creative energy that sparks new ideas." “My future has never looked brighter.” Have a Vision of Future Success The more specific that image is, the more confident you’ll feel about accomplishing your goal. CONFIDENCE IN MEN VS. WOMEN Not feeling so sure of yourself? Flirting could help you fake it ‘til you make it. One study found it signals attractive qualities, including confidence. 20% of women claim that confidence comes from within compared to 15% of men. Turns out spritzing on a scent can be a boon for both sexes: Not only can a fragrance inspire confidence in a man, but the more he likes the scent, the more confident he’ll feel. 90% of women feel more confident when wearing a scent than those who don’t. But the same may not be true for makeup: Research suggests that women who feel obligated to wear makeup do not feel more confident after using it. QUOTE: “No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.” ― Eleanor Roosevelt SOURCES: Damisch, L., Stoberock, B. & Mussweiler, T. (2010) Keep Your Fingers Crossed! How Superstition Improves Performance. Psychological Science. Brummelman E., Thomases S., Orobio de Castro B., Overbeek G., Bushman B. (2013) “That’s Not Just Beautiful—That’s Incredibly Beautiful!” The Adverse Impact of Inflated Praise on Children With Low Self-Esteem. Psychological Science. Craig Roberts S., Little A.C., et al. (2009) Manipulation of body odour alters men’s self-confidence and judgments of their visual attractiveness by women. International Journal of Cosmetic Science. Elavsky S. (2010) Longitudinal examination of the exercise and self-esteem model in middle-aged women. Journal of Sports and Exercise Psychology. Etcoff N.L., Stock, S. et al. (2011) Cosmetics as a feature of the extended human phenotype: modulation of the perception of biologically important facial signals. PLoS One. Hsu, D., Huang L., et al. (2014) The Music of Power: Perceptual and Behavioral Consequences of Powerful Music. Social Psychological and Personality Science. Ideal to Real TODAY/AOL Body Image survey Locke C. and Van Zant A. (2012) Feminine Charm: An Experimental Analysis of its Costs and Benefits in Negotiations. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin. Lyubomirsky, S. and Dimatteo M. Robin (2006) What Are the Differences Between Happiness and Self-Esteem? Social Indicators Research. Pretty, J., Peacock, J., et al. (2005) The Mental and Physical Health Outcomes of Green Exercise. International Journal of Environmental Health Resources. Costa-Giomi, E. (2004) Effects of Three Years of Piano Instruction on Children’s Academic Achievement, School Performance and Self-Esteem. Psychology of Music. Psychology Today: Do Self-Affirmations Work? A Revisit Psyhchology Today: Hell Yes: The 7 Best Reasons for Swearing Psychology Today: 5 Steps to Make Affirmations Work for You TED: Your body language shapes who you are Brinol, P. Petty, R.E. & Wagner, B. (2009) Body posture effects on self-evaluation: A self-validation approach. European Journal of Social Psychology. Hamath, R. (2012) The University of Melbourne: Self-confidence the secret to workplace advancement Yeager, D.S., Johnson, R., Spitzer, B., Trzesniewski, K., Powers, J., & Dweck, C.S. (2013). The far-reaching effects of believing people can change. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology.