Body Language...Whaaaa???

I've always been fascinated by the idea that body language speaks the words we are too afraid of saying out loud. I recently went to a body language class. Granted, it was only an hour, but it was super interesting. I'm excited to delve into this a little further as time goes on.

Did you know that while you are speaking, the brain prepares and organizes 650 words per minute to say. At the last moment, our Conscience filters this down to 150 words. As a person speaks, there's an average of 500 words that are being held back in the Sub-Conscience. These words tend to show up in our body language. Hello...that's crazy! Kind of puts a different spin on 'filtering our words' and being proud of ourselves that we did, only to find out the other person probably got your unfiltered words through your body language. Unless you've mastered your body language skills. In which case, we need to talk.

57% of communication is based off of Gestures and/or Body Language.
36% of communication is based off of Tone of Voice.
7% of communication is based off of Words.

Those stats speak volumes.

There is 40 pieces of info in your conscience to every 20,000,000 in the sub-conscience. The Sub-Conscience tries to help you find answers. The Conscience filters based off of what is familiar to you. Like standing with your arms crossed and putting off the impression that you don't want to be approached. This is why getting rid of a mannerisms or behaviors is difficult. We default to what is familiar. And crossing our arms feels comfortable and familiar. But if we keep introducing new behavior, our conscience will no longer filter out the new behavior that once was unfamiliar. The theory is that poor body language can be changed into good body language that helps us express ourselves.

Some things I learned:
~Standing on one leg gives off the impression that you are off balance.
~Feet pointing in different directions gives off the impression that you are unclear or indecisive.
~Hands touching gives off the impression that you are not open, not confident.
~Looking Up and to the Right means upcoming, creative, images, artistic
~Looking Up and to the Left means history, linear, facts, numbers.
~Looking Up and skyward means look outside of self, open for direction, trust, and spiritual.
~Looking Down and at heart means personal, look within self, emotional, internal.
~Looking Side to Side means internal voice, authoritative voices, other's opinions, following directions.