On body language

What was it, that I had to do now ?
What was it, that I had to do now ?

Social psychologists study the language of human bodies. They want to understand our non verbal ways of communicating, and how we can take advantage of understanding the impact of our psyche on our bodies, and vice versa.

I remain fascinated by what is going on in the minds of other people, by how they translate their unique beings into expressions of living form. This is a never ending source of photographic inspiration.

As you grow old, the experience accumulates, and so you tend to look at the world increasingly from above.
As you grow old, the experience accumulates, and so you tend to look at the world increasingly from above.

Sometimes, this looks as if the elderly want to dive. Or are they facing an invisible headwind?
Sometimes, this looks as if the elderly want to dive. Or are they facing an invisible headwind?

I have not seen anywhere an analysis linking the angle, at which people like to face the world, with age – most likely, because there is no causal correlation. But from my observational studies, some patterns emerge…

 

 

The youngest like to play and to face the world up
The youngest like to play and to face the world up.

As people become young adults, the body language becomes exuberant and sophisticated. At times I am really amazed what acrobatic poses are possible, particularly if you are one of these, who are always glued to their mobile phone.

Women are highly evolved multi tasking organisms.
Women are highly evolved multi tasking organisms.

Humans have always dreamt of being able to fly. When I was younger, I had these dreams, in which I was floating freely above the ground. This makes part of collective subconscious.

Ready to take off
Ready to take off

The older you get, the more difficult it is to imagine that you can set yourself totally free.

I would like to fly, but I have lots of obligations.
I would like to fly, but I have lots of obligations.

Above all, the body language speaks about how powerful we feel.  The more we shrink into fetal poses, wrap ourselves up in our arms, shield our neck or face with the palms of our hands, the weaker and more defensive we are.

Life can be hard on all of us
Life can be hard on all of us

On the other hand, the more we expand, reach out, stretch our arms and legs, the more powerful and happier we are.

It does not take much to feel happy !
It does not take much to feel happy !

One of the more desirable states in life, is to live in such a way, that you are totally absorbed doing things you love doing, to the point, that even hard work becomes an effortless play. This has been called “Living in the flow”.

While it might be difficult to define it precisely, as with many other things, you instinctively know how to recognize it, when you see it. When I manage to capture such a moment, it makes me instantly appreciate in how many ways our lives can be made worthwhile.

It is not the sound of his bottles that counts the most. It is the poetry of his performance.
It is not the sound of his bottles that counts the most. It is the poetry of his performance.