Affirmations and power poses are a quick way to boost your confidence temporarily before an important event such as a job interview or a big meeting. You can build your confidence permanently using affirmations as well if you practice them regularly.
Here’s how to use these techniques.
Speaking Affirmations
Find a quiet place with a mirror. Look yourself in the eye and repeat any (or all) of these affirmations several times. Speaking them aloud is preferable, but if you can’t find a place where you can be alone and don’t want people to hear, repeat them silently.
I can do this.
I am confident.
I am capable of great things.
I am growing and becoming a better version of myself.
I deserve everything I want from life.
I am competent, capable, and intelligent.
Power Poses
Power poses are ways of standing or sitting that increase your confidence and make you feel like you can take on the world. Check out the following and try them out:
The LBJ -Find a nearby item at waist height, such as a table or chair. Place your hands on it and lean slightly forward. This pose increases your confidence while giving you a sense of power and control over the room.
The Vanna White -Gesture with open arms towards something you are emphasizing. This draws attention and makes you feel in charge, increasing your confidence.
The Standing Power Pose -Stand up straight, hold your head upright, keep your feet planted firmly on the ground, slightly apart, and hold your arms open. This makes you feel and look confident without being intimidating and is good to use in a meeting where you’re a junior person.
The Sitting Power Pose -Sit in the chair with your lumbar curve straight and your head upright. Both your feet should be firmly on the ground. Keep the rest of your posture “open” instead of closed. Do not cross your arms. Look the speaker in the eyes. This is a great pose to use for job interviews.
These are just a few of the many speaking affirmations and power poses you can use to boost your confidence. Not all are applicable or appropriate in every situation (the LBJ isn’t a great one to use for job interviews, for example) and not all of them will work for you. Try them and see which ones you find work best for your personality and situation.