monkey see, monkey do serves as a personal blog and creative outlet for
facial expressions
took a communication skills class yesterday, which was intense and i think really helpful. that’s not to say i’m a victim of frequent solecism or barbarism. but it’s possible i could learn to inspire and express more, so i took it with that in mind.
what really struck me was the degree to which i communicate with facial expressions subconsciously. some of the exercises were to expose that. i should not play poker: i blink when nervous or my nostrils flare ever so slightly, and i almost plead for agreement with my eyes, and show judgment and aloof aires with a slight, upturned smile. i flirt with the hopes of having my statements received, but once exposed it seemed just all the more shallow. all this was very subtle, but the more awareness i had of it the more interested i found myself in just telling it straight, not needing these slight, subconscious gestures.
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10. July 2006 at 8:56 am :
I’m not sure I agree. I mean, the gestures are certainly there, but you might not want to get rid of them or anything so drastic. It is really very disconcerting to speak with someone who doesn’t show those minute facial reactions. It feels like the person is withdrawn or hiding something.
14. July 2006 at 9:46 am :
thanks for commenting.
ya, i didn’t mean to imply that the ultimate point was to have no facial expressions. it was however to use facial expressions as part of the practice, and thereby to learn more about the subconscious, emotive aspects of communication. it did feel really foreign to try to speak without any gestures. so it worked, i learned about my habits because i kept having the urge to use my hands and smile and eyebrows while talking.