Amy Cuddy

I suspect this will feel familiar to many of you. And if my suspicion is right, that means you’re not alone!

“High functioning” doesn’t mean the anxiety functions to serve you in the long run. It might appear as if that’s what it’s doing, but that comes at a cost. If you relate to these descriptions, remember that you might need to loosen your grip on the reins a bit. A little more mess now often leads to a lot more peace later.

#anxiety #mentalhealth #psychology #stress

Feeling panicked? You don’t have to respond today. Slowing down is often a power move.

3 Minutes on HOW LEADERS GET LISTENING WRONG.

I feel hopeful when I hear people talk about the importance of listening in good leadership, but I think too many leaders don’t yet understand what good listening actually is. They listen to placate or to tick off a box. Here are two critical mistakes that many leaders make.

#leadershipdevelopment #listeningskills #leadershipskills #influence #listening

✨GLIMMERS✨ vs. TRIGGERS: One of the most useful psychological concepts and self-nudges I’ve come across in a long time.

“A glimmer is the exact opposite of a trigger—it is some kind of cue, either internal or external that brings one back to a sense of joy or safety. This can be anything from catching a view of the skyline of your favorite city to seeing a picture of your pet [or picking up your shiny new roller skates!].

In our overstimulated worlds, glimmers can be the answer to regulating our overwhelmed nervous systems.

The concept of glimmers is part of Polyvagal theory. Coined by behavioral neuroscientist Stephen Porges and introduced in 1995, the theory describes how our autonomic nervous system (which controls involuntary actions like breathing) is searching for and reading cues to determine if they are dangerous.

This process is called neuroception, and the vagus nerve, which regulates organ functions, is responsible for it,” according to Theodora Blanchfield, MA, AMFT.

Like micro-moments of love, glimmers require us NOTICE those small moments when we feel a surge of joy combined with peace. A sense of internal and external connection. And they are ALL around us.

For me, yesterday was a glimmer-rich day. After returning from Boston, and a long week of packing up my house back there, I finally got to pick up my new rollerskates which I’ve been collecting parts for for almost a year (It was time for an upgrade.) And, I got to pick them up from some people who I just thoroughly respect and enjoy, and who always make me smile — the team at SK8 Fanatics Custom Roller Skates (Seriously, go to them for all your roller-skate needs). To boot (no pun intended), my friend Elaine joined me, filmed my first seconds on my new skates, and then we spent the evening skating with friends at our stomping/rolling ground, the Venice Slate Plaza. And THEN we ate dinner with friends on our front porch. Not many days filled with more glimmers! And I really try to NOTICE and savor them — and pay attention to their visceral effect on me.

Look for the glimmers today!

🎥: Elaine Reid 🌟

#glimmers #joy #triggers #findingpeace #blackownedbusinesses

Thanks to Susan Cain for sharing this one.

“Create a sound that pleases the reader’s ear. Don’t just write words. Write music.” -Gary Provost

#writingtips

I warmly introduce and invite you to my newsletter -- Communicate with Impact: Lessons on Powerful Speaking and Writing. We have so much to talk about!

#publicspeaking #publicspeakingskills #writingtips #writingadvice #communicationskills #personaldevelopment

I study, and write, speak, and teach about how we can improve our relationships, performance, and wellbeing by taking control of our own thoughts, feelings, and actions — in both our personal and professional lives. How do we learn to understand the internal and external pressures that influence who we are, such that we can become kinder, braver people?

FINALLY, I've assembled many of those ideas — via video, audio, and writing — on a personal website. If you'd like to learn more from me — about power and powerlessness, performance under stress, prejudice and stereotyping, nonverbal behavior and more — please check out my new website!

amycuddy.com

#amycuddy #power #socialpsychology #stereotyping #communicationskills #leadership #nonverbalbehavior

Some (of many) book and author recommendations. Yes, posting because they are especially relevant on #juneteenth — but also because they are some of the greatest books and authors, period. Many in this stack, including both fiction and nonfiction, shaped my understanding of the world. Several are currently updating my understanding of the world. Don’t fear learning.

#bookrecommendations #juneteenth #personalgrowth