Things Your Body Language Says About You
Have you been curious to reveal the hidden, to know the unknown, to see the unseen? Did you know all this time you were missing the clear hints? We all are eager to know what’s going in someone’s mind and to be frank, we all have wished we had the ability to read other’s minds. What if we tell you this is actually possible. You can easily decode the concealed truths behind the fake smiles and much more with reading their body language.
Our body language says a lot about us. Most of the times when we talk to someone, we don’t understand that they are saying more than what is coming out of their mouths. Being able to read the body language helps you in listening to the unsaid. People are continuously throwing off signals; intentionally and unintentionally, either with their facial expressions, or hand gestures, or postures. All we have to do is to pay attention.
In this blog, we will talk about how to master nonverbal communication by reading body language. Every gesture, whether it’s standing in a certain position, or giving a particular expression, is telling a story. Learn what others have to tell you with their body language, and know what you’re telling others with yours.
How to read body language
Smiling
Let’s begin with the smile. Have you ever wondered if someone genuinely smiles or laughed at something you said or they just fake it? Well, now you can know with this simple tip. When a person smiles, notice their eyes more than their curved lips. A genuine smile comes from the eyes and makes your eyes small by crinkling the skin around them. The next time, if you see someone smiling without the crinkled eyes, know they’re faking it.
Playing with hair
Wondered why your crush keeps touching his hair when he’s around you or talking to you? Well, it might be a good news for you. According to psychology when a person plays with hair that indicates attraction. It might also tell that person wants to entice you or is being flirtatious.
Lips biting
Biting the lips explains the anxiousness in the person. People often bite their lips when they are scared or anxious. Next time you see a person biting their lips, try to calm him down by saying something nice.
In some cases, it could be a sign of flirting as well. Understand the situation and then interpret the signal.
Watch the head
Nodding your head during a conversation shows your interest. We tend to nod when we find something interesting, knowledgeable, or relatable. Next time you want to show you’re interested in the meetings at your workplace, nod and mark your spot.
Tilting your head means you’re totally into the conversation. It shows you are not just hearing, you’re listening.
Leaning
We tend to lean towards the people we like and pull away from those we don’t feel any bonding. So, next time in a cinema date, when your girlfriend leans towards you, know she is into you. And if she leans away, know this is not going to work.
Touching nose
If you want to know a person is lying or not then be attentive and watch their actions. A liar normally covers his mouth after telling a lie or by looking away instantly. But sometimes they might don’t do this rather scratch their nose. If you sense something fishy in a conversation and then that person itches his nose, you know, they’re lying.
Blinking
Blinking is, however, a normal natural process but blinking quite often means you’re under stressed or there are a lot of things going in your head. The normal blink rate is 6-8 times per minute but if you are doing it more often then you might need to calm down.
Rubbing
Rubbing the forehead or earlobe indicates uneasiness, vulnerability. While rubbing the neck means the person is either insecure or distressed.
Read the eyes
1. The dilation of pupils shows interest, affection, and love for the other person.
2. The contraction of pupils means disinterest.
3. Looking directly into the eyes while talking shows confidence. However, intense eye contact means that person is lying.
4. The look-and-look-away game that we often play while looking at our crush and trying not to be obvious means you’re interested but not courageous enough to make a move.
5. Darting eyes means you’re bored and finding the way to escape.
6. When a person looks up while talking that indicates he is recalling something from his memory. If a person looks towards his ear that means he is trying to remember what he heard.
7. If your eyes go up to the right, it implies we’re using our imagination, not our memory. When a person does this, know he is lying.
Check out the eyebrows
The raised eyebrows reflect the curiosity and interest. We tend to raise the eyebrows when we hear or see something surprising and we are trying to believe it. However, lifting only one eyebrow means disapproval or disregard.
Standing Positions
1. Standing with legs closed shows defense and that’s why our army and soldiers are commanded to stand straight and alert.
2. Standing with legs opened apart indicates domination and determination in a person. When a person you’re arguing with stands with legs open wide and hands on their hips then you better watch out. This person knows what he is getting into.
3. Shifting your weight from one foot to another denotes you are restless or anxious and that is coming out through your body language.
Crossed arms
Crossing your arms means you’re angry or being defensive. You have to be careful before concluding what’s actually happening. If a person crossed arms along with legs than chances are that person is more frightened than angry.
Notice the feet
Your feets are the most honest part of your body. They tell the truth that our other body parts might hide.
1. Pointing your toes in indicate you are nervous, insecure, or awkward. No matter how good posture your body is maintaining, how nice your hands’ gestures is, and how calm your expressions are, your toes will cheat on you and reveal the truth.
2. Tapping your feet or fidgetting indicates uncomfortability of a person. This indicates that a person is not liking the environment or the conversation and wants to leave.
3. When you stand in a crowd or sit in a meeting or with friends, pay attention to where your feet are pointing at. We tend to point towards the person we feel the most connected with or trust the most. However, if your feet are pointed towards a person who you are not friends with then this also shows you have feelings for him or want to befriend him.
4. Pointing your feet towards the door means you want to leave.
Sitting
1. Sitting openly and relaxed shows that the person is full of himself and is in charge of what and how he perceives. It also shows comfortability.
2. Crossing your legs while sitting means dominance and confidence. while crossing your ankle means nervousness.
Walking
Faster and longer steps mean you’re eager to reach somewhere. It also shows your competence, productivity, and determination. Sloppy steps mean the person has restlessness. Bounce in the steps indicates the optimism.
Hands Gestures
1. Opening your hands to someone while talking as if you are presenting something shows that you have nothing to hide and you’re open to new ideas and experiences. While hiding your hands means you’re trying to hide something.
2. Nails biting indicate nervousness and less confidence.
3. Placing your hands while cupping your face indicate boredom. And putting your hands under your chin shows the interest that the listener is listenning carefully.
4. The more gestures you give with your hands while you talk represents that you are energetic and warm. Fewer gestures mean you are stable and logical, and analytic. Sloppy gestures, however, indicate confusion and lack of confidence.
5. Placing your hand on your heart indicates the truthfulness and sincerity.
6. Placing your hand on the head after saying something or doing or watching means you are embarrassed.
7. Pointing finger shows dominance and sometimes anger. Clenched hands show you’re stressed or angry.
Shrugging shoulder
Shrugging your shoulder means you are not aware of something or you are plain nervous.
Voice Tone
The alteration in our voice when we talk shows our interest. Weak voice shows sadness and loud means excitement.
Mirroring someone
Mirroring body language means trust. If you see someone mirroring you next time, know he is comfortable with you and like spending time with you.
All of these are the simple yet efficient ways to analyze someone. Most of these body languages do work for everyone. Better test them for yourself first and know what information you’re giving out unintentionally. Once you get better at judging yourself and your actions, you’ll know what and how others perceive you. Also, it will help you in understanding others and their personalities. After all, body language is the only universal language.
