There is a simple strategy that you can use to reduce anxiety, improve your ability to deal with stress, and boost your confidence.
The best part? It works immediately and only takes two minutes to do.
Here’s the deal…
Your Hormones and Your Confidence
Recent research coming out of Harvard University, The University of Oregon, The University of Texas and many other places is revealing that powerful and effective leaders not only share similar mindsets, but also similar hormone levels. More specifically, powerful leaders tend to have higher levels of testosterone and lower levels of cortisol.
Higher levels of testosterone (in both men and women) lead to increased feelings of confidence. Meanwhile, lower levels of cortisol lead to decreased anxiety and an improved ability to deal with stress.
Here’s what that means: if you enjoy these hormone levels, then you are biologically primed to be more assertive, confident, and relaxed. At the same time, you will be less reactive to stress and more likely to handle pressure situations well. In other words, the correct hormone levels can make you feel more confident and less stressed.
Sounds good, right?
What is particularly important about testosterone and coritsol is that your levels of each hormone can change rapidly depending on the social, physical, and environmental cues that surround you.
What does this have to do with feeling more confident?
Well, it turns out that one of the physical cues that impacts these two hormones is body language. And if you understand how to improve your body language, then you can increase your testosterone, decrease your cortisol, and “magically” feel more confident and risk tolerant.
Let’s talk about the link between body language and confidence…
Body Language: The “Power Poses”
Amy Cuddy is a researcher at Harvard University who studies body language and the impact it has on your hormones.
Cuddy and her team have classified different body positions as “high power” or “low power” poses. In general, the high power poses are open and relaxed while the low power poses are closed and guarded.
Below is an image showing the different types of power poses.
How are testosterone and cortisol related to confindence?
Testosterone and cortisol are two hormones that play a crucial role in confidence levels. Testosterone, often referred to as the "confidence hormone," is associated with assertiveness, risk-taking, and feelings of power and control. Higher levels of testosterone in both men and women are linked to increased confidence and self-assuredness.
On the other hand, cortisol is the primary stress hormone. Elevated levels of cortisol are associated with anxiety, stress, and a heightened reactivity to pressure situations. When cortisol levels are high, individuals may feel more overwhelmed and less able to handle challenging circumstances.
The balance between testosterone and cortisol is important for overall confidence and resilience. Higher testosterone levels and lower cortisol levels create an optimal hormonal environment for feeling confident and dealing with stress effectively. By understanding how to influence and manipulate these hormone levels, individuals can improve their ability to project confidence and handle stressful situations with ease.