Did you know that even if you lie verbally, your body betrays your true intentions? No matter how good you can pretend to be interested in a conversation your body will always show how really bored you actually are. Nonverbal communication is often done unconsciously (instinctively) rather than consciously.

Learn to read these simple body postures, facial expressions and voice tones that will show you the exact message that other people are conveying without actually verbalizing it. In a matter of a few seconds, you can be able to recognize unspoken requests, hidden intentions and simply identify the true message behind what people are saying!

By Olesia Dovzhenko

Dr. Edward G. Wertheim from Northeastern University stated in his work “The Importance of Effective Communication” that body language can play five following roles:

1. Repetition: It repeats and often strengthens the message you’re making verbally.
2. Contradiction: It can contradict the message you’re trying to convey, thus indicating to your listener that you may not be telling the truth.
3. Substitution: For example, your facial expression often conveys a far more vivid message than words ever can.
4. Complementing: For example, if your boss pats you on the back in addition to giving praise, it can increase the impact of his/her message.
5. Accenting: Pounding the table, for example, can underline the importance of your message.

Digging a bit deeper into this subject we have discovered a fantastic work of Antoni Lacinai, who is the Global Keynote Speaker and considers to be the Communication Wizard in the corporate world. In his work “51 Body Language Gestures, and What They Signal” he explains the meaning behind some gestures.

A confident dominant person has their hands in their pockets with thumbs outside or on their hips to make themselves look bigger. They will shake your hand firmly with their palm facing down. When standing or sitting their legs will be apart and they will maintain eye contact.

Lack of confidence or defensiveness shows when someone crosses their arms, hunches their back or rounds their shoulders, crosses their legs, fiddles or keeps their eyes down. They tend to make themselves look smaller.

A posture with spread fingers denotes a flirty intention. If they touch your hand or lean in closer it means they’re interested in you.

When someone covers their mouth when they speak, in most cases they might be lying. Blinking a lot, tilting their head, using their non-dominant hand for emphasis and moving a lot are all signs of dishonesty.

If they scratch their neck during a conversation, they probably disagree.

If two people cross their legs while standing, they feel safe in each other’s company. They might also imitate each other’s movements and posture.

If their body leans away from you and looks towards the door, they probably feel uncomfortable and their body wants to leave and escape the situation.

When someone leans their head on their hand it shows that they are bored with what you’re saying.

Someone with a straight posture and their nose looking up signifies arrogance, pride and superiority. They might also have an asymmetric smile.

Be careful to always check the context of the situation when trying to read body language. Someone crossing their arms might just be feeling cold. Someone scratching their neck might have neck pain. Look for the signs and notice situations to learn to read people better.

Find Out If Someone is Attracted to You From Their Body Language

On International Day of Sign Language, we thought it would be pretty cool to learn a few basic signs for words like: “sorry”, “thank you”, and “I love you”. Learn the alphabet and important one-word signs that will enable you to communicate easier. It’s also pretty interesting and just fun to know.

By Mariam Elhamy

Let’s start off with the alphabet:

If you don’t know the sign for a specific word or want to spell out a name, you can use fingerspelling with this alphabet to easily spell out any word you want to say.

Here are a few basic questions you can ask with one sign:

Some words that will help you in general communication with a deaf person:

And, here are the family members in sign language:

In total, there are 26 different hand signs that you need to learn if you want to master sign language. That doesn’t seem like too big of a number, does it?

Facial expressions are also very important when doing sign language because they explain the intensity of the phrase that you’re signing.

Here are some Youtube channels to get you started:

• Bill Vicars
• Signed With Heart
• Deafies in Drag
• ASL Anissa
• ASLMeredith
• Sign Duo 

Find Out If Someone is Attracted to You From Their Body Language

Have you been losing a lot of friends lately but have no clue why? We hear you. Sometimes people just drift apart especially with the increasing pressures of life. But that isn’t always the case. There are more profound reasons why you might be losing your friends.

Let’s explore why we sometimes struggle with friendships and how to fix that.

By Mariam Elhamy

Reason #1 You Don’t Have Enough Time

Adult friendships are difficult, especially now that each person has their own job, life and responsibilities. It automatically becomes harder and harder to maintain good contact and quality time with your friends. Maintain Friendships

Always make sure to get some regular catching up with your friends. Preferably face to face if you have the time but if you don’t, then pick up the phone and ask about how they’ve been doing.

Reason #2 You Might Be Growing in Different Directions

And that’s okay! Sometimes friends drift apart because they stop having the same interests and they no longer find many things in common. It only shows that not everything is meant to last forever and we have to accept that. You gave to be okay with the fact that outgrowing friends is a real thing.

Reason #3: Connecting with People Became Difficult

Especially if you’ve had issues trusting others in the past. It might be even harder if you’ve suffered trauma. Bullying, abusive friendships, emotionally manipulative relationships and overstepped boundaries are all examples of things that make it hard and scary for you to let someone in and open up to them.

It’s also harder to make new friends as you get older, rejection can be stressful and there are fewer chances to meet new people. Maintain Friendships

Tip: Just don’t be afraid to let go of the past and work on strengthening your current relationships. You never know who might be there for you when you need them the most.

Reason #4: Your Fears are Ruining your Friendships

If you or one of your friends have some sort of fear of abandonment then it would explain why you’re overly possessive and controlling when it comes to them or they to you.

If you’ve been feeling a bit controlled or suffocated by the friendship have a heart-to-heart talk about it with your friend. Tell them what’s bothering you in a gentle but firm way. If your friends have been pulling away because you’ve been possessive with them, ask them what bothers them and work on it.

To cut this bad habit loose you need to learn to give people space or know how to ask for it when needed. Maintain Friendships

Some examples of what you could say:

• I only have 20 mins to grab a coffee
• I can’t talk right now, I’ll call you once I can
• Thanks for the invite, but tonight I need some alone time
• I’m not okay with you making fun of my insecurities
• I am struggling with my own mental health right now and I don’t feel like I can be your primary support system

Reason #5: You Don’t Have Enough Energy

If you’re having a tough time and you’re not in your best mental state it might be hard for you to maintain friendships. Your mental capacity is already too consumed by your struggling mental state.

The opposite is also true, if you feel your friends are isolating then maybe they’re going through a tough time. Make sure to check up on them and ask them how they really feel and what’s really been going on with them. You might learn a lot.

When people are depressed, they tend to feel unworthy so they pull away from everyone they care about. Make sure you give your friends the attention they need or ask for it when you need it. You need to be very vocal when it comes to this because people can’t read your mind. If they know but haven’t done anything about it, then that’s on them.

To sum it all up, the key to maintaining a good long relationship with your friends is keeping good contact, scheduling and sticking to get-togethers and always opening up and talking about what’s been bothering you because if you don’t fight for your friendships who will? Maintain Friendships

Why Your Relationship Didn’t Work and Whether to Fight for It

The agony of self-doubt taunts a lot of people, especially those who tend to overthink a lot and it’s all because of the social pressure that is constantly put on them to be perfect all the time. Making them more vulnerable to criticism and limiting their true potential.

To battle all these conformities, we’re tackling some thinking habits most people do that are really unhealthy for their mental state, which in turn reflects on their decisions. If you’re tired of not achieving your full potential read on because things are about to get serious!

By Mariam Elhamy

Mentally strong people don’t:

1. See Failure As A Weakness

Failing doesn’t change the way they see themselves because strong people know what it means to fail and have no one believe in them then pick themselves up and try again. They don’t let their failures define them or hold them back.

2. See Perfectionism As The Only Way

Holding themselves at a higher place is what makes them stronger but they don’t fuss over what is expected of them or how they should be. Their benchmark is high but realistic and not impossible.

3. Feed Off Of Other People’s Failures or Envy Their Successes

They don’t waste time being petty or compare themselves to others because they know that everyone is walking their own journey. They glorify their strengths, work on their weaknesses and celebrate others’ winnings.

4. Overthink Everything

Mentally strong people know that overthinking tends to either exaggerate things that happened in the past or dramatize what might happen in the future, both of which won’t solve anything. They know what bothers them and they try to find solutions with healthy thinking instead of engaging in endless loops of negative thoughts.

5. Let Other People’s Opinions Get to Them

They take criticism with an open mind and they don’t let it belittle who they are. They believe in their strengths and don’t let others put them down.

6. Be Afraid to Ask For Help

Asking for help is not shameful and mentally strong people are brave enough to be vulnerable and emotional around the people that they trust.

7. Doubt Their Every Step

Self scrutinizing is quite normal and healthy in a way. Mentally strong people know how to deal with their self doubt so that it doesn’t stop them from taking action or delving into something risky.

8. Avoid Tough Challenges

Uncomfortable situations are bound to happen. Strong people know how to tackle these situations and confront them with a confident and problem-solving mindset. Challenges stimulate them, they don’t hide away or try to avoid them.

9. Abide by The Rules that Don’t Serve Them

Mentally strong people can tell the difference between right and wrong. They don’t follow rules that only serve others or society but that doesn’t mean that they take it as a pass to behave senselessly.

10. Blame Themselves

Mentally strong people take responsibility for their actions but they don’t carry the blame for someone else’s shortcomings. They know their mistakes don’t define them because they are flexible enough to change.

11. Be Afraid to Show Who They Really Are

Strong people stand up for what they believe in. They’re not afraid to speak up when they see something wrong and especially not for the convenience of others.

12. Shy Away from Accepting Compliments

Mentally strong people celebrate their triumphs, they don’t shy away from compliments or feel unworthy because they acknowledge the effort that they put in.

Recognize the unhealthy habits that always put you down and focus on a more positive healthy mindset. When you give up the things that are holding you back, with time you will become mentally strong and your thinking habits will become much more effective.

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