A short instructional segment by Dr. Aziz teaching a quick, embodied technique to reduce fear and anxiety: change posture and activate a power gesture or vocalization for about 5–10 seconds (e.g., roll shoulders back, stand upright, yell “yes” or punch the air), practice privately, then use the subtle posture cue in public to boost confidence and take action.
Here's one simple, proven technique to help you quickly overcome fear and anxiety. To go put yourself out there. It's based on the idea that when you're anxious, you start to contract physiologically inside your body. You need to counteract that because you can't just think your way out of the anxiety. So what you need to do is you need to roll your shoulders back, get upright in your posture, and actually access physiological power in your body for five to 10 seconds. And you can do that with a gesture. You can do that with your voice. You could yell the word yes. You could punch the air. It doesn't matter. Might look something like this. Yes. Yes, Y. Now, you do that for about 10 seconds, roll your shoulders back and step forward into your life. Do that in your room when no one's around. And then when you're out in the world, you don't necessarily jump up and down and yell yes, but you do this. Roll your shoulders back. It's a cue your body remembers, and you feel a lot more confidence to go take action now.
