Louder Than Words

Your body language can project your state of mind and communicate your true feelings even better than words. Patience Gumbo-Chimbetete explores this matter.

- Gumbo-Chimbetete

Ever found yourself trying to explain something with words, only for your body to convey a different message? According to Dr Xoliswa Mvoko, a clinical psychologist based in Pretoria, this is common. She says this outward reflection of your emotional condition manifests in the form of gestures, posture and facial expressions. However, a certain movement or facial expression may be meaningful or mean nothing at all.

“It is easy to make assumptions when we try to ‘read’ someone’s actions based on a single movement or gesture,” says Dr Xoliswa. Gaëtan Schmid, a body language specialist based in Cape Town, agrees. “Non-verbal messages are not black and white, and should always be taken in a certain context or situation.” He explains that this is because your body talks and talks, and never shuts up. And, most of the time, you don’t even know what message it will be conveying!