Amy Cuddy

But the thing that works the best for me is breathing. And I know there is so much on breath work now and I don't wanna, you know, I'm not an expert. But the relaxation response that's triggered by certain breathing patterns is incredibly effective for me. And so basically it sends your nervous system into this rest and digest state, which is the opposite of fight, flee, or faint.

But the thing that works the best for me is breathing. And I know there is so much on breath work now and I don't wanna, you know, I'm not an expert. But the relaxation response that's triggered by certain breathing patterns is incredibly effective for me. And so basically it sends your nervous system into this rest and digest state, which is the opposite of fight, flee, or faint.

And so the one that I like best is called four, seven, eight breathing. And we can do it right now. So basically for four counts, you inhale. For seven, you hold your breath. And for eight, you exhale. So I'm going to count and you do it.

And so the one that I like best is called four, seven, eight breathing. And we can do it right now. So basically for four counts, you inhale. For seven, you hold your breath. And for eight, you exhale. So I'm going to count and you do it.

Seven, hold it. Eight, exhale. One, two, three, four. One, two, three, four, five, six, seven. One, two, three, four. four, five, six, seven, eight. That's it. Three times. One time you feel it. It will put me to sleep at night. If I'm relaxed, it makes me sleepy. But if I'm anxious, it calms me down. There's just so much research on the relaxation response and breathing.

Seven, hold it. Eight, exhale. One, two, three, four. One, two, three, four, five, six, seven. One, two, three, four. four, five, six, seven, eight. That's it. Three times. One time you feel it. It will put me to sleep at night. If I'm relaxed, it makes me sleepy. But if I'm anxious, it calms me down. There's just so much research on the relaxation response and breathing.

But what I think is interesting about it is that that kind of breathing is expansive. Just like what I talk about, you know, like expansive posture, that's expensive. You're breathing deeply and slowly. You're taking up more temporal space. You're expanding your, you know, like your physical body more. And when we expand, we tend to feel more confident, more powerful, more calm.

But what I think is interesting about it is that that kind of breathing is expansive. Just like what I talk about, you know, like expansive posture, that's expensive. You're breathing deeply and slowly. You're taking up more temporal space. You're expanding your, you know, like your physical body more. And when we expand, we tend to feel more confident, more powerful, more calm.

What we should be in is having good neutral posture. So before stressful events, That's when I say find a private space. I think I said in the TED Talk, find a bathroom stall, which I honestly think just like I thought of at the moment, but I can't tell you how many emails I get from people who are like, I was in the bathroom.

What we should be in is having good neutral posture. So before stressful events, That's when I say find a private space. I think I said in the TED Talk, find a bathroom stall, which I honestly think just like I thought of at the moment, but I can't tell you how many emails I get from people who are like, I was in the bathroom.

Or like people who see somebody in a bathroom with their arms up in the air, they're like, are you power posing in there?

Or like people who see somebody in a bathroom with their arms up in the air, they're like, are you power posing in there?

Oh, I know. I loved it so much. That's so good. You can't imagine. Like, I love that show, and I had no idea. You had no idea it was coming. I was, like, sobbing.

Oh, I know. I loved it so much. That's so good. You can't imagine. Like, I love that show, and I had no idea. You had no idea it was coming. I was, like, sobbing.

I know. And I think all of us were absolutely beyond thrilled. Like, this is cool. Yeah, yeah. I mean, to have that. And I know I was telling Brene this, but... The first time I saw that show, at the end of the first episode, I turned to my husband and I said, I love Ted Lasso. And he goes, that's because you are Ted Lasso. And I was like, well, I guess I had good self-esteem then.

I know. And I think all of us were absolutely beyond thrilled. Like, this is cool. Yeah, yeah. I mean, to have that. And I know I was telling Brene this, but... The first time I saw that show, at the end of the first episode, I turned to my husband and I said, I love Ted Lasso. And he goes, that's because you are Ted Lasso. And I was like, well, I guess I had good self-esteem then.

But I am Ted Lasso. And so are you. Yes, exactly. It's funny because Brene says that she's Roy Kent.

But I am Ted Lasso. And so are you. Yes, exactly. It's funny because Brene says that she's Roy Kent.

But anyway, yeah. So before these stressful situations, the ones that you approach with dread, that's when you find some space and really make yourself big. Expansive. Like whatever feels comfortable to you, expand. You know, in front of other people, it comes across as really aggressive and domineering and off-putting.

But anyway, yeah. So before these stressful situations, the ones that you approach with dread, that's when you find some space and really make yourself big. Expansive. Like whatever feels comfortable to you, expand. You know, in front of other people, it comes across as really aggressive and domineering and off-putting.