I just got back from a week-long retreat where I was mic'd up 24/7 for a documentary. (I’ll tell you about it later, it’s gonna be really exciting!)

Yes, even in the bathroom.

Even when I was asleep.

When I finally got home and took that mic off, something weird happened.

My entire body started to relax in ways I didn't even know it was tense.

My shoulders dropped.

My breathing deepened.

My whole torso loosened up.

That's when it hit me:

I'd been holding tension the entire week without realizing it.

But what’s crazier is that it wasn't just the mic.

That mic simply revealed something most of us carry everywhere we go:

Subtle internal tension whenever we're around other people.

You know that feeling.

The slight tightness in your chest when you walk into a room full of strangers.

The way your shoulders creep up during conversations.

The shallow breathing when you're trying to make a good impression.

We're all performing, trying to appear charismatic or helpful or cool - anything other than just being ourselves. And our bodies keep the score.

But here's why this matters:

When you're holding tension, people feel it.

That tight energy makes you seem guarded, like you're holding something back.

Your voice gets a little higher.

Your movements become more rigid.

You second-guess what you're about to say before you say it.

Meanwhile, the most magnetic people in the room?

They're loose. Relaxed. Present.

They're not trying to manage an image - they're just being themselves.

And everyone gravitates toward that ease.

In this video, I break down exactly how you can do the same - even if social situations make you anxious:

How To Dissolve Social Anxiety And Connect With Anyone

Talk soon,
Charlie