Your body responds to the feelings you have when you communicate to others. Understanding body language along with hand positions and placement can help tell how a person is feeling, thinking and even how truthful they are. Expressing with your hands can say so much about you. With that said not expressing with your hands can show a defeated, weak feeling or depressed emotion. Here is how to read body language and common hand expressions to better understand others as well as your own emotions:
Touching or hugging the body is a pacifier position to reduce stress and says “I’ll get through this somehow”. Holding one arm or wrist with the other hand crossing over the body not only shuts out the person you’re talking to it shows a need to hold back or feeling uncomfortable. When you hold yourself in anyway it is a comforting move and makes you appear less confident. When standing keep your hands at your sides to use for minor expressing. This demonstrates you are open, warm and enthusiastic which creates body language attraction.
Hands behind the back are best left to the Royals (a commanding body language). This position can some times show signs of hiding something or holding back information.
Hands on the hip can convey confidence and readiness. Both hands on the hips shows authority and that you mean business.
Hands hidden in your pockets can show signs of dis-interest and boredom.
Crossing the arms in front of you blocks and shuts out others. It is a closed down position and makes you look less open and friendly.
Playing with hair. Twirling or running hands through hair can be flirty but also a signal of exasperation with another especially if you run your whole hand through your hair.
Touching your nose while speaking can mean lying or exaggeration. Be careful in the Spring where nose touching can also mean allergies.
Rubbing the nose while listening to another can mean holding back a comment or criticism.
Pinching the nose bridge or the area between the eyes can be a negative response to what’s being said.
Index finger at the temples while listening to another can mean the listener is feeling critical.
Index finger on the chin can show consideration for what another is saying. Supporting ones face into the hand while listening shows boredom and if the mouth is covered by the fingers a “holding back” from speaking. When a listener is pondering deeply the message one hand will be folded under chin with knuckles facing forward. This is known as “thinking man” position.
Scratching the throat with your fingers conveys doubt or disbelief.
Ear tugging can show a feeling of indecision. The listener doesn’t want to hear what your saying.
Holding hands too low in front of the body draws attention to the crotch area and is not flattering. Lift hands slightly to your waist which draws the focus in to your center making the waist appear smaller.
Rubbing eyes while listening to another can mean the listener does not want to see what you mean. Touching eyes is called eye blocking and since the gut talks to and is effected by the eyes soft tissue any itchy eyes can be stress from something hard to stomach.
HOW YOUR BODY RESPONDS SENDS A MESSAGE:
Clearing of the throat or coughing can show a sign of irritation. It can also just mean a tickle in the throat so use your judgment.
Yawning can mean boredom. This can also be a stress reaction when you are not breathing deeply the body will yawn for oxygen.
Sighing is stress induced. Where is the stress coming from?
