When our youngest son was still of pre-school age, there was a cartoon television program called “He-Man and the Masters of the Universe.” He-Man was really the handsome Prince Adam but when it came time to do battle with the dastardly Skeletor, Prince Adam grabbed the Sword of Power, raised it high and said, “By the power of Greyskull!” Then, there would be a crackle of lightning into the sword and boom, the Prince transformed into the mighty He-Man who roared, “I have the power!”
This pose and claim became a favorite of young Jason’s who grabbed a plastic sword or anything else that served as an effective substitute, raised it over his head and shouted, “I have the power!”
Now, years later, I realize that both Jason and He-Man were imitating the posture of the Magician in the tarot. 
The Magician also raises one hand to the sky while he points the other hand to the earth in a position that serves as a channel for conducting the creative idea into physical form. He does, indeed, have the power.
The female version of that power pose is the position taken by Wonder Woman who stands with her arms akimbo, her feet apart, and her head up. Interesting, isn’t it, that her fists or hands are at her hips, directing energy into the source of life?
Amy Cuddy, social psychologist and author of Presence: Bringing Your Boldest Self to Your Biggest Challenges, says that if the Wonder Woman or other power postures are held for two minutes, a person can raise his or her testosterone levels (yes, women, too) and reduce cortisol levels (the stress hormone). What this does is increase one’s sense of personal power and confidence.
If you are a writer or creative, think about how you can use this if you need to stand up and speak in front of an audience about your work, or you need to meet with one or several people about a commission or a grant, or you just need a boost to get past whatever doubts and fears are keeping you from moving forward with a project or taking a new direction. Instead of curling in on yourself and making yourself smaller, taking up less space, strike a pose. A power pose. For two minutes.
As a writer, this is also interesting to me because writers are constantly reminded to show, don’t tell. Part of that show is to let the reader see in a person’s gestures and body language something about their emotions and their characteristics. Think about how these power poses might influence the people around your character and/or change the character herself.
Cuddy, in her TED talk, exhorts us to use these power postures in order to create personal change. “Fake it until you become it,” she says.
So, if you have to put on a cape, set your hands to your hips and hold that Wonder Woman posture for two minutes before sitting down to write, who’s to know?
I won’t tell.