Have you noticed how proud, strong and hopeful Michelle Obama looks in almost every photograph? If you agree with me on this, you are reading her body language: her embodiment of thoughts, feelings and beliefs. Posture is sometimes misunderstood as a proper positioning, but in actuality poise or posture is a fluid, dynamic way of expressing ourselves physically. Our intentions are apparent in our attitudes, including our postural attitudes, our balance and our breathing.

A Simple Solutions experiment to try right now:

1. Close your eyes and think of one of your daily worries or feelings of self-doubt. Notice how your breath is affected by these thoughts. Let your eyes open and notice where you are looking – down?
2. Close your eyes again and think of someone who cherishes you, or something you are proud of. Notice how your breath is affected. Let your eyes open and notice where you are looking – out or up?
3. Now with your eyes open, notice the firm support of the floor and your chair. As you get a sense of the “down”, allow the top of your head to aim “up” as you let the back of you neck, your throat, your whole back soften to move and expand with your breathing. Is your attitude now more like #1 or #2?

Postural response to intention and belief is an ongoing process. If we are willing to pause briefly and realign our attitude with the reality of the present moment, we can regain the poise we need to express our hope, our strength and our pride.