A Case for Making Faces

When we talk about making faces we don’t necessarily mean sticking your tongue out and crossing your eyes. In fact, we’re talking about the day-to-day action of communicating via your facial expressions. And while we may understand communication as being largely verbal, a large part of how we interpret a person and the situation is via the face.

Obvious examples of this include scowling to indicate displeasure or disagreement, smiling to indicate the opposite, and raised eyebrows to convey surprise. However, for the most part facial expressions are perceived and interpreted by the subconscious and are often subtle movements.

Thanks to this amazing function of the subconscious we’re most of us masters at picking up and interpreting these subtleties; kind of like speaking a language so faint that we’re not even aware that we’re doing it.

However, while we may all be master interpreters of this covert language, we’re not necessarily master communicators. Some experts believe that many misunderstandings occur because of a misalignment between face and mind – the face failing to fully convey the sense of the emotion behind it.

Learning the language of the face (LoF) is a process tailored to help users better communicate their emotions facially; and while it is primarily aimed at actors it is not of masking or creating disingenuous expressions – quite the opposite, in fact! The process aims to strengthen the relationship between the face and the mind. When you become fluent in this ‘language’ thoughts and feelings are easily expressed facially, underling the importance of cultivating a healthy relationship between mind and body.

Next time you’re hanging out with a friend, why not leave out the words and try having a literal ‘face to face’ conversation …

 

W.K. 2014