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Body Cues

Social niceties and polite responses often prevail. The reality of this is the all too commonality of masking true feelings. Those offering cordial greetings like "I'm fine" or "I'm good," even when their inner landscape might tell a different story, creates instances where pleasantries requires dishonesty.

The human body possess a wealth of information that often goes unnoticed amidst the hustle and bustle of life. Tuning into these internal cues, also known as body knowledge, grants access to a deeper understanding of your emotions. By being mindful of your bodily sensations, reactions, and signals, you can better align your verbal expressions with your true feelings. This practice of authenticity requires patience and a willingness to explore the nuances of your emotional landscape.

Active listening skills and emotional well-being directly influences a capacity to perceive the feelings of others. Approximately 20% of individuals are highly sensory sensitive, which means they're more attuned to nonverbal cues. Reading facial expressions, deciphering voice tone inflections, and observing body language all contribute to accurately discerning moods and emotions. Nonverbal communication often speaks volumes beyond the spoken word, providing valuable insights into the feelings that others may be hesitant to express outright.

An ability to understand non-verbal cues can bridge the gap between the real and the perceived. The capabilities to deciphering body language lends to a clearer understanding of the emotions underlying words. This skill enables you to connect on a more genuine level and cultivate meaningful relationships built on empathy and authenticity.

Surface-level interactions certainly do prevail. One way to slowly break free from the facade of politeness in order to embrace authentic expression is by tapping into your internal or body cues and reading non-verbal signals. The path towards genuine communication requires practice and self-awareness, but the rewards are immeasurable. By listening to your body, and honing your ability to understand non-verbal cues, you can navigate the complexities of human emotion, fostering deeper connections and a richer understanding of yourself and those surrounding you.

Self-rate each of the following statements on a 1 (not at all) to 10 (completely) scale.

My body knowledge cues me to moments in which perceived and actual reality is different.

I have a “felt sense” when reading people’s facial expressions.

My tone and/or pitch changes when I’m emotionally overwhelmed.

REFERENCE

Acevedo, B. P., Aron, E. N., Aron, A., Sangster, M.-D., Collins, N., & Brown, L. L. (2014). The highly sensitive brain: an fMRI study of sensory processing sensitivity and response to others’ emotions. Brain and Behavior4(4), 580–594. http://doi.org/10.1002/brb3.242