Sweater by Joseph; trousers by Toast Every day we perform a careful monologue with our bodies, communicating our inner thoughts in smiles, shrugs, slouches and glances. Our conscious minds are often not even aware of these somatic signals, meaning our physical movements can reveal our deepest beliefs: A wide stance and open arms can project certainty within calamity by allowing our innermost convictions to speak through us, while those who communicate with stiff or wooden bodies show a lack of belief in their own words. We may try to speak outwardly with a sense of bravado, but a nervous fidget and downcast eyes can reveal the deep-seated fear within. Conversely, those who are fluent in the subtleties of body language stand outwith quiet confidence and possess a mastery of silent communication. Consciously or not, we express a level of emotional intelligence through the use of nonverbal signs. Aside from learning how to listen to our own motions, replicating the gestures of those around us can also teach us empathy. Just as we parrot the vocal inflection and cadence of those we’re listening to, we momentarily share another’s joy when we mirror a smile, or experience another’s sadness through a furrowed brow or unexpected tears. By grasping the power of body language, we not only better convey our own feelings, but also gain the ability to more fully understand the meaning of the postures of those around us. Even people who are naturally predisposed to closing themselves off through crossed arms and hunched shoulders can train their bodies toward the common language of confidence by maintaining eye contact, posturing an open stance and lending gestures of affirmation like nodding or extending an arm. By learning the linguistic nuances that we communicate through movement, we can each find a dialect of our own and begin to speak our way toward tangible courage. — Assistant Styling Indigo Goss Model Rochana at Premier Hair Maki Tanaka Makeup Joanna Banach at Untitled Artists "We may try to speak outwardly with a sense of bravado, but a nervous fidget and downcast eyes can reveal the deep-seated fear within" TwitterFacebookPinterest "We may try to speak outwardly with a sense of bravado, but a nervous fidget and downcast eyes can reveal the deep-seated fear within" This story is from Kinfolk Issue Fifteen Buy Now Top by Gant Rugger; trousers by Folk Turtleneck by John Smedley; top by Rejina Pyo Bodysuit by Wolford; trousers by A.P.C. & Vanessa Seward; belt by Ally Capellino Turtleneck by John Smedley; trousers by Arts & Science; coat by DAY Birger et Mikkelsen Jumpsuit by Album di Famiglia from Egg; coat by Fabio Quaranta Related Stories Arts & Culture Issue 19 Going Incognito We all secretly wonder what mischief we’d make if invisible: When our identity is hidden, everything seems possible. Arts & Culture Issue 19 The Best Policy Sometimes we talk to each other without feeling heard. Honesty—a most intimate interaction—can be just as thrilling as its more devious inverse. Arts & Culture Issue 19 A Sense of Suspense With unhinged imaginations and mountains of cliff-hangers, the filmmakers behind the sci-fi podcast Limetown have all the makings of a scary story.
Arts & Culture Issue 19 Going Incognito We all secretly wonder what mischief we’d make if invisible: When our identity is hidden, everything seems possible.
Arts & Culture Issue 19 The Best Policy Sometimes we talk to each other without feeling heard. Honesty—a most intimate interaction—can be just as thrilling as its more devious inverse.
Arts & Culture Issue 19 A Sense of Suspense With unhinged imaginations and mountains of cliff-hangers, the filmmakers behind the sci-fi podcast Limetown have all the makings of a scary story.
