Thursday 25 February 2010

Charlie Browns' depressed stance

"This is my depressed stance. When you're depressed, it makes a lot of difference how you stand. The worst thing you can do is straighten up and hold your head high because then you'll start to feel better. If you're going to get any joy out of being depressed, you've got to stand like this."

Charlie Browns' depressed stance says quite a lot. It's easy to feel disempowered, depressed and low when you hunch your back and keep your eyes fixed on the ground. Our body languange affects our emotions in more ways than most people are aware of. And not only that: it also reveals our sense of self, and other people will behave towards us based on what we reveal about us. So if you show that you are depressed, that is how people will treat you; which can be nice if they boost your self esteem, but can also affirm your state of mind and your low sense of self. Which is not a good thing.

Try doing the opposite! The next time you feel small, disempowered, and dejected, straighten your back, hold your head high and try to smile. Smile at yourself in the mirror, smile at the people you meet. What happens with your mood? What happens in how other people respond to you? What happens with your self esteem?