Presented by BetterHelp.
Your body is a major part of your communication system. Whether it’s communicating with you or others, there are subtle ways your body “speaks” to those around you. Body language is a nonverbal form of communication that is based on your movements and facial expressions that convey your emotions and the way you’re feeling.
Everything from eye contact to crossing your arms can convey to others the way you’re feeling. It can even be subtle emotions that you aren’t even trying to convey, such as discomfort or infatuation. Online mental health resources like BetterHelp have more information on body language and how you can better understand the nuances of your body’s communication.
Your Behavior Matters
Body language is a form of nonverbal communication. It can consist of everything from your facial expressions and eye contact to your gestures and posture. Even your head movement can indicate your unspoken feelings and emotions. These can help to convey if you’re actually comfortable in a situation, agitated, or even attracted to someone.
Understanding your body language and the nonverbal cues of others can help you to better assess certain situations. For example, this can come in handy during important meetings and job interviews. Uncrossed arms and relaxed posture help to convey you’re an open person that’s comfortable in the situation. Body language can be a conscious or subconscious action.
Understanding The Body’s Subtext
Body language can help to enhance verbal communication and learning more about the body language of others helps to better understand a situation. If someone says they’re fine, but they aren’t making eye contact, their arms are crossed, or they’re turned away from you, it could indicate that they’re not actually feeling comfortable or are upset about something.
It’s important to remember that many forms of body language are subconscious. Professionals can tell that a person may be lying based on the minute indicators in their posture, pupil dilation, and the movement of their eyes. Even if you’re trying to hide something from another person, your body could be loudly expressing it anyway.
Learning More About Your Reactions
The understanding of communication in daily life is important to successful relationships, careers, and even social life. The role of body language has been a form of communication since before spoken or written languages. Taking the time to understand your own form of nonverbal communication can help you to make conscious decisions about your posture and positioning. For example, if you’re trying to hint that you’re attracted to someone, you could make the effort to turn toward them, maintain eye contact, and keep your hands at your sides or, in a friendly situation, in your pockets.
It can also provide you with a better understanding of avoiding conflict. If you’re trying to reduce tension or stay calm during an argument, maintaining open body language and a casual position can help to convey that you’re not trying to be aggressive. Even our children can pick up on the small ways our bodies change when we’re annoyed or displeased as their parents. Consciously checking your body language during conflict can help to maintain a civil or composed conversation.
Learning about body language isn’t necessarily an overnight course. Some professionals take years to study the habits and details of certain cultures, personalities, and backgrounds just to get a better understanding of the nuances of body language. Whether it’s learning more about yourself, a significant other, or your friends and family members, understanding body language can enhance your ability to effectively communicate.
