The meaning is in the muscle
May 18, 2009 by GradingGirl
Filed under Blogs, TLC Speaks
The meaning is in the messenger. . .
In a previous post, I said that the meaning is in the message sender, not in the message itself. Well, I have an addendum for that post: sometimes our bodies knows what’s up before we do. Common sense tells us that expressions and non-verbal actions display what’s going on inside our heads. But according to an article in the May/June 2009 issue of Psychology Todaythe road goes both ways – our feelings and attitudes are also informed by what our bodies are doing. This supports my theory that the actual words of messages don’t nearly matter as much as the person behind the words. It also takes the theory a step further: we can make ourselves believe or feel a certain way by how we physically move.
Here are some examples of the “muscle” holding the meaning ~
Botox erases both wrinkles and emotions. The muscle paralyzing drug has been shown to mute not only visible expressions of fear and anger but also the actual feelings that accompany those expressions.
Pressing down on top of your desk as if pushing something away puts in a mind-set of avoidance and vigilance. This little trick enhances attention, inhibition, and analytical reasoning. Taking a few steps backward works, too. Hmmm, GG says next time you are taking a written test, you may want to take a moment to press your palms to your writing surface.
Similarly, pressing up on the bottom of your desktop flexes the muscles used to bring things closer, signaling a benign (rather than dangerous) situation and boosting your creativity. Have a brain freeze (not the kind caused by ice cream), press up!
If you want to like a painting, picture, or song more, nod your head while lookng at it, as if in agreement. We implicitly associate certain actions with judgments that tend to produce them. Want to put yourself in a cynical mood? Shake your head. I always enjoyed nodding as feedback from students . . . now I appreciate it even more!
To make something seem funnier, hold a pencil horizontally between your teeth. The forced grin increases the perceived funniness of whatever you look at.
Do you cry because you’re sad or are you sad because you cried? According to research, placing fake tears under your eyes actually increases feelings of sorrow. This explains why I could keep the tears coming once I started a “fake” cry for roles on stage in college.
GG’s Trick for rainy days and Mondays: Want to feel better anywhere, anytime?!? Smile. . . even if you’re not feeling happier, you will . . . GUARANTEED!!!
