According to research by GottmanInst, body language can be a huge indicator of whether a relationship will last. Here's what to know, plus what to do if the body language between you and your partner hasn't been great. 💬
, previously explained that when someone's body tenses up, that's a common"negative" expression, which may be related to stress, discomfort, or anger."Positive" body language—like relaxing the body or resting comfortably—can indicate happiness and trust.
Negative body language can therefore create a cycle of conflict, where the body language incites conflict, and the conflict incites more negative body language. And over time, this creates an unsustainable relationship environment.This ad is displayed using third party content and we do not control its accessibility features.Body language can be extremely telling, but there's also certainly room for miscommunication.
As Earnshaw suggests, it's never a bad idea to check in with your partner about how they are feeling during your conversations,"to ensure that what you're trying to express through your body is landing the right way." If the roles are reversed, and you're thrown by their body language, you can tell them that you sense through their body language that they're upset, ask them if that's accurate, and also ask what it is they need in that moment.