I have had the pleasure of listening to a TED Talk by Amy Cuddy, who studies the influence of our body language on the way we actually feel.
According to Amy, smiling when we feel sad – can make us feel better and opening up when we feel weak, can actually make us feel more powerful and confident.
She suggests doing a few “power poses” before an important negotiation, meeting or interview, saying that they may have a very positive effect on the outcome.
Watch her lecture and try it out. I have been using this technique for a few days now and it has worked wonders!