How to Become More Aware of Your Own Body Language

Step-by-Step Guide

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   Step 1: Take a look at yourself in a mirror

   How do you think another person would perceive you right now? Are you slouching and trying to hide away or are you standing up tall and proud? A good time to check out yourself is when you are waiting somewhere, or you are in a meeting.
   
   Use this time to "step outside of yourself" and to view how others would be viewing you.
   
   Simply imagine what others might be seeing when they're looking at you.
   
   Is it a good picture?
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   Step 2: a window reflection etc.

   Get a good friend or a family member whom you trust to be objective.
   
   Have them tell you how they feel your body posture, facial expressions, and overall demeanor comes across to them.
   
   Tell them they are at total liberty to be honest; after all, they see you all the time when you are busy seeing them and others.
   
   Most of the time you will find that they do have an opinion; and be sure to take this as constructive criticism, not destructive or mean. , Ask them for advice on how they think that you could better project your image.
   
   Try a different way of standing (stand up tall!), or try different facial expressions.
   
   Get them to give you feedback on these practice changes as you do them.
   
   Remember those that work best so that you can continue working on them. , People often make short remarks about us that we either deflect or resist really taking in because we don't want to change and we don't like thinking that we're being criticized.
   
   But some of what people say about improving ourselves is very useful information.
   
   If you overhear someone criticizing you, or something gets back to you through someone else, assess this information critically rather than emotionally.
   
   If there is a grain of truth to what is being said, you have a ready-made answer to what has to be changed.
   
   For example, you might learn that people find you morose, grumpy, irritable, bad-tempered, lazy, etc. and a lot of that will definitely be showing through in your body language.
   
   Time to shape up and not react emotionally to these tidbits of feedback! , Many people now have the ability to film themselves with a camera or a computer.
   
   Try it out.
   
   Find a passage to read or think of a situation to act out.
   
   Film it (or get a trusted friend to film it).
   
   Play it back.
   
   Consider:
   What are your initial reactions? What things about your performance bother you? Please you? Are you cringing at anything? Write a list of the things you'd like to change.
   
   For example, muttering, saying "um" a lot, looking defensive, clenching your fists, etc. , It's not a case of trying to be perfect; it's a case of trying to be the best that we can and to bring out the best of our personalities so that other people can see the real us and don't have to dig through the layers of self-defensiveness and poor habits.
   
   You are capable of being the real you with just a little extra effort.
   
   Once you are aware of your own body language and the signals that it is sending out, you'll be totally amazed with how effective changing the negative body language will be for boosting your self-esteem and attracting people to you.
   
   Good luck!
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   Step 3: Find a trusted feedback adviser.

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   Step 4: Tell your trusted feedback adviser how you wish to come across.

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   Step 5: Listen to the things people say.

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   Step 6: Use the resources at hand.

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   Step 7: Keep practicing and reviewing.

Detailed Guide

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