Body language sends out messages to others and to ourselves.
Yes, to ourselves.
Let’s look at our body language in general.
Many studies show that the majority of our communication is through nonverbal elements such as facial expressions, gestures and posture.
When it comes to facial expressions, they are integral when expressing emotions through the body. Combinations of eyes, eyebrows, lips, nose, and cheek movements allow you to interpret someone else’s mood and convey your mood to others, as well as yourself.
Our sitting or standing body postures are also a great indication of our emotions. For example, a person sitting straight and against the back of a chair implies that the person is confident and ready to conquer the day. On the other hand, a person slouched back or bent over looks insecure, disengaged and unhappy.
From the Inside out and the Outside in
Are you aware of how our body, habits or position, facial expressions and habitual muscle tightness affect our own emotions?
Look around. How many people do you see who tightly press their lips together, frown, or clench their jaws and appear to be unhappy? If you make them laugh suddenly their faces, bodies and mood changes significantly.
As we express our emotions through our body – from the inside out – we can also deliberately enhance our feeling of wellbeing by working on our body – from the outside in. For example:
- Take a deep breath and relax your jaw and open your lips slightly – how does this feel?
- Straighten your back and bring your shoulders back – do you feel more confident embracing your day? There is evidence that looking up and smiling releases serotonin, the happy hormone.
Try it and see what happens!
Take some time to get to know your body and boost your wellbeing through the following exercises:
- Joy and Awareness: Be aware of when you tighten your lips, bite, and clench your jaw. Take a deep breath, slightly open your lips and practice a Mona Lisa smile. Your whole body will start to relax. Check in with yourself regularly, for example, 3-5x a day, to become more aware and use these exercises.
- Happiness and Confidence: Increase your confidence by practicing good posture – shoulders back and eyes looking forward instead of down. Also, raise your arms up every hour. This is a great exercise to improve your happiness.
- Calm and Peaceful: When we slow down our breath and practice deep abdominal breathing our fears and worries disappear. Practice abdominal breathing through prolonged gentle exhaling to open the space for deep and slow abdominal inhale.
Once you start paying attention to your body, you will become aware of how it sends out various signals to others and most importantly to yourself. Enjoy taking charge of your physical body to positively affect your emotions and well-being.
If you are ready to learn more strategies to give your body positive and inspiring messages, book your free Strategy Session here.
The human body is the best picture of the human soul. ~ Ludwig Wittgenstein
