Self-Respect Through Better Posture: A Personal Journey

As an opportunity to practice self-care to achieve self-respect, proper posture is a viable candidate.

I got on to proper posture from reading about sacred ordinances in the Mormon church. They can refer to physical acts that signify a spiritual commitment.

In thinking about behaviors, I have not yet included in my self-respect program, proper posture came up.

I am a lifelong sloucher and have been most of my life. However, my attempts to change my posture have invariably fallen short.

“A strong confident person can rule the room with knowledge, personal style, attitude, and great posture.” ― Cindy Ann Peterson

Unbeknownst to me, research reveals many benefits of correct posture.

Growing up, “sit up straight” was a frequent but annoying admonition. Visitors at family dinner parties seemed especially disposed to these requests.

The American Chiropractic Association argues that proper alignment of our postural muscles prevents strain and other miseries.

Many factors can cause poor posture, including weak muscles, obesity, and stress. Poor posture can lead to back pain, breathing problems, and headaches.

It turns out that posture can significantly impact your health and well-being. Improving your posture can have the following benefits.

Increased Confidence

How you feel about yourself can be influenced by posture. A study found that students who held an upright, confident posture were much more likely to have confidence in their thinking — and performed better on math tests.

Greater Self-Esteem

In addition to giving you more energy, better posture can reduce depressive feelings and improve self-esteem and mood. Feeling good about yourself is another surprising result of better posture.

According to one study, slumped posture is a sign of depression. There is evidence that an upright posture improves self-esteem and mood. Changing posture correctly may ‘increase positive affect, reduce fatigue, and decrease self-focus. “

I must say these findings come as a surprise. In the past, I never bothered to check research results on the benefits of walking and sitting correctly. Now, this is a wake-up call.

Easier Breathing

It is easier to breathe when the body is correctly aligned. Slouching can reduce lung capacity. The result can be shortness of breath which can lower your ability to do your best work. So, alter your posture to get more life into your lungs.

“Ishmael had the posture of a classic general, the intellect of a cab driver.” ― Jarrett McCall, The Breathing Advocate

Boosted Productivity

Research indicates that posture impacts productivity. If you are in pain or lack self-confidence, you will have trouble staying focused and productive. Productivity goes up when you can alleviate these difficulties with improved posture.

Desk Sitting

Sitting at a desk all day and typing on a keyboard is best achieved with an ergonomic workstation.

“Setting up an ergonomically correct workstation is important for maintaining the health of your back, shoulders, arms, and wrists. Ideally, your desk should be slightly below elbow level so your forearms and wrists can stay parallel to the floor when typing. Be sure that your shoulders stay relaxed, not hunched over.”

Moreover, a 2012 study from San Francisco State University linked poor posture to low mood.

“We found that if people had a history of depression, slouching seemed to activate those memories and evoke feelings of hopelessness,” says Erik Peper, a professor at SFSU and the first author of the study.

The following reference contains practical tactics and strategies for improving posture.7 Benefits of Improved Posture and How to Achieve It | USAHS

In my view, correct posture is an accessible channel for implementing the kind of self-image you want for yourself and others. But changing the habits of a lifetime will be a struggle, as I can attest.

The tying together of self-care, better posture, and self-respect make a winning combination. Now we know that better health and well-being for doing so create an even stronger case.

I favor seeing posture as just another avenue for the endless pursuit of more self-respect by self-care.

“Posture is merely a clue to whether a person is using themselves well. It’s a mindfulness method developed over a century ago, long before mindfulness became a buzzword. “

The above comment is from a reader of an excellent Medium.com article: Upright and uptight: the invention of posture | by Tom Jesson | Medium

In Sum

This essay explores the link between posture and self-respect. The benefits of good posture include increased confidence, greater self-esteem, improved breathing, boosted productivity, and better back health.

I view posture as an accessible channel for implementing the kind of self-image one wants and showing it to others. Posture is just another avenue for the endless pursuit of more self-respect by self-care.

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