What Can Your Facial Expression Tell You About Your Emotions

  



What Can Your Facial Expression Tell You About Your Emotions?

We look at other people’s faces every day.

A smile may make us think someone is happy. A tense expression may make us wonder if that person is worried or upset. We often notice these changes in other people very quickly.

But there is one face we may not observe very carefully: our own.

I began thinking about this simple question:

What is my face showing when I am angry, worried, tired, or happy?

We Do Not Always Notice Our Own Expressions

When I become frustrated, I may be concentrating so much on the situation that I do not notice my facial expression.

My forehead may become tense. My eyes may look different. My mouth may tighten. My voice and the way I speak may change as well.

Other people may notice these changes before I do.

The same can happen when I feel comfortable or happy. My face may become more relaxed without me intentionally trying to make it look that way.

This made me realize that occasionally paying attention to my own expression can be useful.

Looking in the Mirror in a Different Way

Most of us use a mirror to check our hair, clothes, or appearance.

But sometimes I think a mirror can be used for another purpose.

When I am having a difficult day, I can look at my face and ask:

Why does my face look tense today?

What was I thinking about a few minutes ago?

Am I angry about something?

Am I worried about something that has not even happened yet?

The purpose is not to judge whether my face looks good or bad. It is simply to stop for a moment and notice what I may be feeling.

Sometimes we become so busy reacting to what is happening around us that we do not recognize what is happening inside us.

Our expression can be one small clue.

An Expression Does Not Tell the Whole Story

Of course, we should be careful.

We cannot know everything about someone’s emotions simply by looking at their face. A person may smile while going through a difficult time. Someone may naturally have a serious expression even when feeling perfectly comfortable.

That is why I do not believe we should look at another person’s face and immediately decide what that person is thinking.

Instead, I find this idea more useful when I apply it to myself.

I know my own circumstances. I know what happened during my day. I know what thoughts have been occupying my mind.

When I combine that knowledge with what I notice in my expression, it can encourage me to examine my feelings more carefully.

A Small Habit of Self-Observation

If I notice that my face has become tense, I can ask myself what caused it.

Maybe I had an uncomfortable conversation.

Maybe I am worried about tomorrow.

Maybe I am impatient because something is not happening as quickly as I expected.

Simply recognizing the feeling does not solve every problem. But it can give me an opportunity to think before I react.

Perhaps I need to calm down before speaking.

Perhaps I need to reconsider whether my worry is necessary.

Perhaps I need to understand the other person’s situation before becoming angry.

That small moment of awareness can change what I do next.

What Is Your Face Telling You Today?

We spend a great deal of time observing the world around us.

Sometimes it may also be helpful to observe ourselves.

The next time you happen to look in a mirror, instead of looking only at your appearance, take a moment to notice your expression.

Ask yourself:

How am I feeling right now?

What have I been thinking about?

Is something making me tense, worried, peaceful, or happy?

Your facial expression cannot explain everything happening inside you.

But sometimes it can provide a simple reminder to pay attention to your own emotions.

And for me, that small act of noticing myself is one way to understand my mind a little better.


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