Stay SOFT in Your Power

Hey STEMBaddie 💕🚀 We hope you are having an amazing day today & feeling like your best and most powerful self.

Today we have a book review of Joseph S. Nye Jr.'s "Soft Power: The Means to Success in World Politics" 💪📚

This book is about world politics and utilizing 'soft power', or influencing others by attraction 👯 and appeal 😍 rather than coercion (economics)💰or force (military) but we can apply it to any area of our lives💣 He emphasizes that soft power is a crucial component of a nation's overall power, alongside military and economic power. Soft power uses cultural influence, political values, and foreign policies in order to influence others.

This may not be what you think of when you think of power. But think of the power the United States has, or had before this year..., and how much that power is attributed to our culture and values and policies and the amount of aid we give other countries. That is soft power. Now we back it up with hard power like our military and economy, but soft power is what makes other countries respect us and want to do business with us and say yes to political agendas (at least in the past, definitely not today).

We can apply these principles in our daily STEM Baddie lives by not only having hard power (our intellect and abilities) but also utilizing and exploiting our soft power (our looks, the way you speak and use assertiveness- not aggression). Being able to look people in the eye while you speak with clear and concise language will do wonders for your soft power. Add in looking polished, looking the part, and you will ooze power- soft power. Confidence like this gains you respect. And respect IS power. And that is exactly what this book tells us using the realm of politics to encourage us to take a look at our own soft power and how we can increase it to get ahead, instead of resorting to negativity and putting others down because that will only lower our soft power. Now let’s go out and be powerful, baddies! 

People that exude soft power are people like Elle Woods and Morticia Addams. They command respect and it's hard not to like them 🖤 They are not masculine nor do they force you to agree with them, but you do so because of their commanding presence, confidence, and beauty- their soft power.

Soft power is incredibly important and we can utilize and exploit it alongside our 'hard power' by looking and acting the part 💁🏼‍♀️ Exuding confidence and looking polished will do WONDERS for your power. And the kicker is to be ASSERTIVE, not aggressive. Establish boundaries without making enemies. Telling your boss, 'I have quite a lot on my plate at the moment, is there something else you'd like me to deprioritize?' when asked to do more work instead of saying sure and resenting him and yourself later. Ask for that raise that you deserve. Respect yourself and your time and energy.

🌸 What's a way you notice soft power being displayed in yourself or others?

Our power is in our hands, baddies! 💅

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STEM Baddie Trick: Get out of your head!

Try this trick the next time you feel nervous or anxious:

1. Take 2 deep breaths

   
   

   2. Close your eyes and drop into your body instead of your mind

   
   

   3. Open your eyes and focus on 3 things you see, hear, smell, or touch. 

   
   

Doing this will force you to be present and take the focus off you

and whatever is intimidating you.

When we get out of our own head, that is when we can actually live in the moment and ease our anxiety so that we can show up authentically and confidently ourselves and assert our dominance.