Faking it til you makin it - science says YAY

[black_mamba]

Changing your body language can affect your levels of stress hormone, making you feel badass.

[sillypenguin]

I like this idea. Induction day at new job this week so I'll be putting this into practice

[The Pigeon]

This was a good one!

[Defiance]

legit.


sometimes it works, i have experienced it sometimes in the past and also on monday before i even saw this topic.

[pheys]

It does work. it is kinda like faking laughing making you feel good.
used my brain to trick my brain lol

[black_mamba]

Originally Posted by sillypenguin

I like this idea. Induction day at new job this week so I'll be putting this into practice

Cool. Adopt a winning pose before you walk into work. Will this do?

Originally Posted by sickofSA

It does work. it is kinda like faking laughing making you feel good.
used my brain to trick my brain lol

Hehe yeah, using your brain to make your body trick your brain into thinking it's happier. I like smiling as it instantly cheers me up even if it was an empty (almost insincere) gesture.

[BritishPeace]

I don't believe this works

[pheys]

Originally Posted by BritishPeace

I don't believe this works

Same principle as a placebo.
Tell your mind it works and you feel better.

I get your skeptisim, but give it a try first

[BritishPeace]

I have, it makes you feel like an actor, or fraud

[pheys]

Originally Posted by BritishPeace

I have, it makes you feel like an actor, or fraud

Actually I agree with you. I had to do a speaking presentation in English at school all those years ago and was shitting myself. But when I got up there, I don't know what happened. Game face came on and I was confident and direct.

Afterwards I sat down (shaking terribly lol) and thought "that isn't me"
and no, it isn't me. But from that point on I don't fear public speaking nearly as much.

I'm not saying go around with a grin on your face like Angelina Jolie is your wife and you just finished copulating with her

Of course it isn't going to work for everyone, but the brain, smart as it is, is also stupid.
Don't feed it short rations.

Keep trying and see how you feel.

Of course, if you truely feel it doesn't work for you, then it doesn't work for you. That doesn't mean there aren't other ways of beating SA.

Cheers

[BritishPeace]

[Gravy Train]

I've tried it and it didn't make me feel different but that may be because I barely know what I feel at all, unless it's fear or anger.

[iTz0kt0Bu]

^ Repressed feelings ???

[Gravy Train]

Originally Posted by retep

^ Repressed feelings ???

I guess so. I don't know what the alternative would feel like. I can't look back and remember a time when I didn't feel this way.

[iTz0kt0Bu]

^ I also find it hard to laugh but can remember when it was natural for me to laugh sometimes.

[Frigid]

Brilliant black mamba! I'm going to start doing that everywhere!

[daveysurfy]

I only read the first sentence of the first post but this sounds similar in principle to the "Alexander Technique" a posture therapy exercise mainly used by actors, I tried it once but it didn't work so well for me.

[diplodocus]

Absolutely. When people respond well to what you are doing it positively reinforces that behaviour and changes it from fake to real. I found just by simply smiling more and I got more positive responses (smiling was really difficult for me, it physically pained me).

[black_mamba]

Originally Posted by daveysurfy

I only read the first sentence of the first post but this sounds similar in principle to the "Alexander Technique" a posture therapy exercise mainly used by actors, I tried it once but it didn't work so well for me.

From a quick scan on wikipedia it doesn't sound the same, but quite similar. Did you only try it once? Like literally, one time? I imagine that any mood-enhancing exercise needs to be practiced several times before you get into the swing of it.

The changes in hormones the lady talked about in the video were tiny, but like diplodicus said the bigger impact is probably people around you treating you differently because you're projecting a different outward image. I tried smiling more and it took me about 2 years to get the hang of it properly.

[daveysurfy]

Originally Posted by black_mamba

From a quick scan on wikipedia it doesn't sound the same, but quite similar. Did you only try it once? Like literally, one time? I imagine that any mood-enhancing exercise needs to be practiced several times before you get into the swing of it.

The changes in hormones the lady talked about in the video were tiny, but like diplodicus said the bigger impact is probably people around you treating you differently because you're projecting a different outward image. I tried smiling more and it took me about 2 years to get the hang of it properly.

it's a pretty common therapy, i had one session and the practioner gives you daily exercises to do, its all about lengthening and strengthening the spine, actors do it because its believed if you stand, walk and carry yourself with confidence then your mind will follow and feel confident too, I didn't like all the eye contract that comes with proper posture though and i had other health problems at the time which meant it wasn't really worth it for me.