If your body takes the shape of the position you are in most of the time, then so would the mind.

The Shape We Hold: How Our Body Molds Our Mind—and How Our Mind Molds Our Body

Ever notice how life physically presses us into shapes? Stress tightens shoulders, folding us inward. Confidence stretches the ribs, lifts the chin, takes up space like it belongs there. And exhaustion? That one turns the spine into something vaguely resembling a neglected Slinky.

But here’s the kicker: Our body isn’t just reacting to life—it’s narrating it.

The positions we hold most often become the stories we tell—physically, mentally, emotionally. The slouch of self-doubt, the collapsed chest of defeat, the curled-in posture of hesitation—all reinforcing, repeating, locking in place. But here’s the plot twist: It works both ways.

Straighten the spine, and suddenly the breath is deeper.

Expand the chest, and confidence inches forward.

Shift the stance, and somehow, the mind follows suit.

And then there’s the fascinating phenomenon of shape shifting—the unconscious ways we adapt to the spaces we inhabit and the people we’re near. Ever notice how, mid-conversation, you subtly start mirroring someone's arm position? Or how a single deep inhale from a teacher can remind a whole room to breathe?

We all have a little chameleon in us—our brains rapidly process and learn through all senses, absorbing the world in real time (and even slightly in the past as we gather and interpret information). Studies show that mirror neurons play a crucial role in imitation and empathy, helping us absorb and replicate behaviors subconsciously.

We instinctively mirror body language and behaviors, embedding ourselves in observation and communication. Facial mimicry has been linked to emotional contagion, reinforcing the idea that we tune into and reflect the emotions of those around us. It’s not just yawning that’s contagious; the more empathetic we are, the more signals we tune into, pick up on, and—before we even realize it—subconsciously replicate.

That’s because movement is contagious. We don’t just hold shapes—we absorb them. The way we carry ourselves, the way we breathe, the posture we settle into isn’t just ours—it’s influenced, mirrored, passed along.

So if the shape we hold determines the way we feel, then what are we unconsciously absorbing? And more importantly—how can we shape the spaces around us to reinforce strength, curiosity, and openness instead of rigidity and depletion?

Let’s take up space like we mean it.

UP LIFT: Be the Person Who Starts the Shape-Shifting

Everything starts somewhere. A ripple in a pond. A first step forward. A single lifted breath.

And here’s the thing—we’re not just shaped by what we hold within us. We’re shaped by what we offer to those around us.

A smile shifts the energy in a room.

An open posture invites connection.

A single deep breath reminds others to breathe.

This isn’t just physical movement. It’s social movement. Emotional movement. UP LIFT is resistance—the refusal to shrink under stress, to cave inward, to let gravity pull us into stagnation. UP LIFT is momentum—expanding, unfolding, encouraging.

What if we became the person who started the shape shifting?

What if, through movement, through presence, through intention—we lifted each other up?

This month, Summit Some Ain’t isn’t just about personal transformation. It’s about shaping the space around us. UP LIFT is contagious—so let’s start the shift.