Body Language As your Communication Tool

BODY LANGUAGE AS YOUR COMMUNICATION TOOL
by Dr. Diane Abdo 

Body Language is known as, “Non-verbal communication”. It is the unconscious and conscious transmission and interpretation of feelings, attitudes, and moods, through:
body posture,  movement,  physical state,  position and relationship to other bodies,  objects and surroundings,  facial expression and eye movement  facial expressions and eye movements, breathing,  perspiration,  pulse,  blood pressure,  blushing,  etc.
 
Body language is a significant aspect of modern communications and relationships. It signals intent, not specific meaning, and it conveys our emotional intent.  Whatever we’re feeling first shows up in our body, and only later in our conscious minds.
 
Understanding body language enables better self-awareness and self-control.  When we understand body language we become better able to refine and improve what our body says about us and to consciously control the way we relate. By developing your awareness of the signs and signals of body language, you can more easily understand other people, and more effectively communicate with them.
 
BODY LANGUAGE AS COMMUNICATION:
 
It is important to understand the concept of Body Language as it applies to our general interpersonal functioning in life.
 
Body Language sends signals about many states of being and messages, including:

• Whether or not we are approachable
• Our boundaries
• Our mood and attitude in a situation
• Our intention
• Our emotional reaction
• Our comfort or discomfort level

 
An essential aspect of daily experience is the importance of reading our own Body Language and to know our own feelings and their related messages and patterns of presentation. For healthy and balanced social and family relationships, we must be in tune with the messages our body language is sending about our intent and emotions.
 
Body Language is considered to be part nature and part nurture.  Certain basic facial expressions of emotion are recognized around the world and are considered to be inherited rather than learned:
Happiness,  sadness,  fear,  disgust,  surprise,  anger.

Aim to be in sync with your own Mind-Body relationship and with whether or not your outsides match, and reveal accurately your insides.  Our responsibility is to manage and improve our own behavior and communication skills, not to criticize, overly interpret or judge the other person’s.
 
Ask yourself, “Am I sending a message with my Body Language that fits my intent?”
 
Basic FACTS About Body Language:

Between 50 to 80% of all human communications are nonverbal.  It has been said that  55% of what you communicate comes from body language, 38% from the tone of your voice, and only 7% from the words you say.

Everyone has their own quirks habits and idiosyncrasies. So it is important to remember that any one behavior by itself is not necessarily indicative of a feeling or attitude. No single body language sign is a reliable indicator. Understanding body language involves the interpretation of several consistent signals to support or indicate a particular conclusion.
 
Body language is a 2-way system:

• Your own body language reveals your feelings and intent toward others.
• The other’s body language reveals their feelings and intent toward you.

 
So you can imagine that Body language is especially important when we are meeting someone for the first time.  The more aware we are of our own, the better we can communicate effectively through our Body Language.
 
Strengthening your mind/body awareness and using that understanding  can enrich your interactions with others in any role in your life.  The more in-tune we are with our emotions and the messages from these emotions, the more authentic we will be and the more others will sense that authenticity.

Dr. Abdo strives to help you connect with your inner peace and develop the empowerment that is rooted in your unique awareness.  She believes that, with personal knowledge and enhanced life skills, you can proactively participate in the course of your journey.  Dr. Abdo approaches her efforts to help you grow with the deep belief that we must be consciously engaged in the dance steps of our lives to reach our goals and actualize our dreams.