Stand Tall and Be Present!

To be truly PRESENT, we must be able to access our most authentic best selves....

to access our most authentic best selves....?

What does this really look like or feel like?  

And does someone truly master "Presence" overnight?

I started reading, "Presence" by Amy Cuddy after learning about her research through another favorite author of mine, Brene Brown.  It always seems ironic how books come into your life at just the right times.  Amy Cuddy helps us understand that there is nothing more important in life than being yourself.  When we achieve greater mindfulness, treat challenges as moments and own our story, we will bring our boldest self to our biggest challenges.  Because we are more influenced by our non-verbals than we often realize, we have to allow ourselves time for non-verbal interventions such as, deep breathing, smiling, sitting up straight in your chair, posture and power posing.  Ultimately, the more we are aware of our own anxieties, the more we communicate about them, and the smarter we are about how we operate, the easier it will be to shrug off the next time.   When we control our breathing, we control our anxieties.  As Maya Angelou says, "Stand up straight and realize who you are, that you tower over your circumstances."  

Amy goes on to talk about the Imposter Phenomenon (IP), a psychological pattern in which an individual doubts his or her accomplishments and has a persistent internalized fear of being exposed as a "fraud".  The IP steals our power and suffocates our presence.  It causes us to overthink and second guess our decisions and our successes.  Regardless of our level of work, there will always be people out there who do not approve of us, who talk over us, who question our decisions, and who undermine our processes.  We have to breathe, stand tall and protect ourselves from those negative voices.  Believe, trust and own your story!

Amy is right when she says, "The reality is that people just aren't thinking about you as much as you think they are - even when you actually are the center of attention.  And if they are, there is nothing you can do out it anyway.  All you can do is, hit the ball!"  Stop adapting your behavior to match the behavior of those around you.  Stop perceiving the expectations of those around you and be who you are and who you are meant to be. 

Believe and Trust Your Story!

OWN IT!

Approach Each Day with Confidence and Excitement!

Decide to Stay on the Board!

Stand Tall and Hit the Ball!

"You never figure out how to write a novel;  You just learn how to write the novel you're on."

-Amy Cuddy

Thanks Amy!  I appreciate your research and storytelling.  You are making differences for others...keep fighting the good fight.