Today is International Women’s Day. A time to celebrate women's accomplishments- both those of famous history creators and the women in our lives who mentor and inspire us. It's a day to celebrate gender equality and continue to push further in the journey. This year’s theme is #PledgeforParity. This means that the path to equality is underway, and major milestones have been reached- but we have not yet "arrived". Double standards, labels, and inquality still exists, in both loud and subtle ways; in the oppression of women in countries all over the world, and quietly in the … [Read more...]
The Power Pose Guide: How to Feel and Exude Confidence
"Fake it until you become it," social psychologist Amy Cuddy tells us, as she explains how our non-verbals govern how we think about ourselves. In her Ted Talk, "Your body language shapes who you are," Cuddy dives into her research on body language and its power to transform our confidence. Cuddy found that when people strike a "power pose", or a stance that portrays confidence, the results are nothing short of mood-changing. When held for a mere 2 minutes, a power pose triggers hormonal changes that configure the brain to become more "assertive, confident, and comfortable." This means our … [Read more...]
National Adoption Month
November 2013 is National Adoption Month, a chance to celebrate adoptive families and stand alongside every child still looking for the warmth and stability of a permanent home, according to a Presidential Proclamation by President Barack Obama. This month, I had the opportunities to reach out and learn more about the process. Through this, I heard many inspiring stories, including one about a man named Peter Likins. Peter is an outlier. He had a lengthy career in academia, including faculty position at UCLA, president of Lehigh University and president of the University of Arizona from 1997 … [Read more...]
Keep An Eye on Your Actions
Throughout my career, I have interacted and communicated with people of all ages, races and levels of society. Through all of that communication, I’ve observed and learned that non-verbal communication is as important, if not more important, than verbal communication. I wanted to share with you a few actions that you might want to steer clear of during your next conversation: Talking with your arms folded across your chest or with your fists clenched at your side. (It conveys aggressiveness. Blowing your nose or wiping your mouth and then shaking someone’s hand. (I’m not sure what it … [Read more...]