“I’m not supposed to be here.”

Sounds familiar? It certainly hit me. And it reminded me of the work that had to go into not feeling like an impostor anymore. Confidence is not something you’re born with — it’s something you build.

Amy Cuddy’s TED Talk “Your Body Language Shapes Who You Are” explores this beautifully, showing how tiny changes in your non-verbal communication can drive huge shifts in how you show up.

It’s not magic — it’s self-talk. And it’s one of the most powerful things you have.

We know our minds can change our body language (we’re happy = we smile), but the opposite is also true (we smile = we feel happier). Do try this at home — it works.

I remember a friend once said to me: “I saw you walking by this morning — how you walked.. you looked so confident!”

Your body posture not only gives an impression to others — it signals to your mind how you feel:

👉 Hunching or touching your neck makes you feel low power and vulnerable — and signals that to others too (spoiler: women do this more than men).

👉 Taking up space — standing tall, keeping your head up — creates a “high power” posture that makes you look but also let your brain know to feel more confident.

Your body changes your mind.

Even a few minutes of adopting a high-power posture can:

✔️ Increase your risk tolerance

✔️ Boost testosterone levels = feeling more powerful (yes, women have that too)

✔️ Lower cortisol = reduced stress

These are biological states found in confident leaders.

This means confidence isn’t just a mindset — it’s a physiological response you can train.

It doesn’t matter how much you’ve achieved or how hard you’ve worked — if you don’t feel confident, you’ll feel like you don’t deserve to be at the table.

As Amy puts it: You can become it. Figure out how to talk to your brain — and show everyone who you are.

✨ Small things that build confidence:

• Hold your posture taller — Your brain registers this as strength, and so does everyone else.

• Make eye contact — It signals self-trust and builds connection.

• Speak slower — Rushing your words can make you seem uncertain, even if you aren’t.

Confidence isn’t about never feeling insecure. It’s about trusting yourself to handle whatever comes next — and showing up anyway.

You don’t have to wait until you “feel ready.” Start standing taller today — it will bring you closer to how you want to feel.

👉 Have you ever noticed how your body language affects how you feel?

#youareyourpower #confidence #mindset