Patti Wood Body Language Expert Blog

Laughter Is The Best Medicine - Take Time To Laugh!

Here are some funny lines that will bring a SMILE to your face!

That moment when you spell a word so wrong that even autocorrect is saying, “I’ve got nothing man!”

Yes officer I saw the speed limit sign, I just didn’t see you.

My favorite people are the ones that can make anything funny, just by the laughing.

My bed is a magical place where I suddenly remember everything I was supposed to do.

I love it when someone’s laugh is funnier than the joke.

I didn’t fall, the floor was lonely so I gave it a hug.

My brain in the morning, ahh where is my coffee, where are my shoes, where are my keys,
My brain at night, I wonder why the earth was placed exactly here and provide the perfect place to sustain human life.

Nothing compares to the stomach ache you get from laughing too hard with your best friends.

I hate it when I am taking a drink and all the ice attacks my face.

I hate waking up from an awesome dream and forgetting what happened.

That awkward moment when your sarcasm is so advanced that people think you are stupid.

Having plans sounds like a good idea until you have to put on clothes and leave your house.

That most annoying moment when the most annoying person is complaining about someone being annoying, in the same way they are annoying.

I am really good at stuff, until people watch me do that stuff.

The sole purpose of a child’s middle name is so that he can tell when he’s really in trouble.

The bedroom was clean until I had to decide what to wear.

Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at www.PattiWood.net. Check out Patti's website for her new book "SNAP, Making the Most of First Impressions, Body Language and Charisma" at www.snapfirstimpressions.com.

Be Wise and Brave and Do Not Fear Change.

Be Wise, Be Brave and Do Not Fear Change

May we be wise enough to recognize the illusions that make us suffer.
May we be brave enough to let go of them.
May you not fear change, difference, infirmity or death.
May you be free of fear and the need to control life.
May we together live mindfully in the present and enjoy every moment.

A few years ago I had plans to see a dear friend of mine while I was in Florida working, and very sadly just before we were going to see each other he passed away suddenly of a heart failure at just 50 years old.

The quote above was on the signature line of his last email to me about getting together.

He certainly lived by its message.

Perhaps you may want read this quote again and take one phrase from it and really think about it this week. Or maybe you may want to email it to a friend or put it up on pintreast.

I am reblogging this quote today in honor of Russ Crumley.

What Are The Benefits Of Cuddling And Co-Sleeping Of All Ages? Cuddling For Partners and Co-Sleeping For Parents and Children Or Parents and Infants

What Are The Benefits Of Cuddling And Co-Sleeping Of All Ages?

Cuddling For Partners and Co-Sleeping For Parents and Children

Or Parents and Infants

Let me begin by saying that communicating through touch is SO important it has its own field of science known as Haptics. ‘Haptics’ is a word that comes to us from Greek, meaning ‘I fasten onto’ or ‘I touch.’ In his book, “The Stages of Human Life,” J. Lionel Taylor tells us that “The greatest sense in our body is our sense of touch… we feel, we love and hate, are touchy and are touched, through the touch corpuscles of our skin.” And since our skin is the largest organ of our body there is lot of communication possible through touch.

The first portion of our brain to evolve on top of its reptilian heritage is the limbic system, the seat of emotion. It is this portion of the brain that permits mothers and their babies to bond and loving couples have it when they cuddle and co sleep. Loving touch triggers the release of oxytocin, often referred to as the "bonding hormone."

According to Tiffany Field, PhD, director of the Touch Research Institute at the University of Miami, “Cuddling stimulates pressure receptors in the skin that create a host of effects, including reducing levels of the stress hormone cortical, lowering heart rate and blood pressure, and improving digestion.” And research says it works the same in adults. Touch has been found to increase self-disclose, rapport and comfort. When the well-known therapists Masters and Johnson were helping couples overcome problems they recommended time together just cuddling.

According to bio behavioral scientists at UCLA School of Medicine, touch is critical to a baby’s brain development. Developmental neuroscience research finds that the infant brain is designed to be molded by the environment it encounters. In other words, babies are born with a certain set of genetics, but they must be activated by early experience and interaction. In the critical first months of life, events are imprinted in the nervous system. “Gentling” is the behavior that involves the stroking and touching of newborns of humans and other animals.

“Hugs and kisses during these critical periods make those neurons grow and connect properly with other neurons,” says Dr. Arthur Janov, in his book, Biology of Love, “You can kiss that brain into maturity.”

Studies in bonding also show that human babies who are held often and touched frequently in their earliest stages of development have higher scores on physical, emotional, and interpersonal scales (Klaus & Kennell, 1976; Field et. al., 1986). Mothers and babies are hard-wired for the experience of togetherness through breastfeeding, co-sleeping, and baby carrying.

Patti Speaking At The 7th Annual Women In Leadership Conference in Oklahoma

We just found the above photo of me speaking at the 7^th Annual Women in Leadership Conference posted on their FaceBook page. I have the funniest expressions. Goodness knows what I was saying! I had a fun outfit, leather leggings and little black skirt and a Channel Jacket to signify the challenge women are having in juggling, being professional, feminine, strong, and just plain hot!

SNAP Book Video

"Being Fully Alive" A Comment On A Quote From My Book!

I had to tell you. I received your first book today and went into reading it immediately. I have to thank you!

Your paragraph in this book:

So many times we are distracted, by to do's and TV shows, by our own worries and wants, that we ignore the being right there in front of us. We become too weary, and so we close down, become automatic. We think if we push through the day, ignore this or that person, and get quickly through this interaction, we can avoid any pain, that at the end of the day we will have some peace. I know that noticing someone's body language gives you so many gifts. By keeping you fully engaged, authentic and connected you share the pain of others and you share their joy.

So today, choose some being, be it a child, sweetie, coworker or spotted pet and notice them, feel what they are feeling, be present with them and fully and completely alive.

This just hit me so hard. It was one of the most meaningful things I have ever read. Thank you for this book. I can’t wait to receive the other. I feel I was blessed to have been chosen as a participant in (your program). This part of the course has been amazing.

Was Jian Ghomeshi Truly Apologetic in his Apology Statement?

Was Jian Ghomeshi Truly Apologetic in his Apology Statement?

I did a radio interview On Corus Radio Toronto analyzing the content of Jian Ghomeshi statement.

My insights below:

Look below at the apology statement of Jian Ghomeshi in its written version. It’s a very extensive apology that goes into a great deal of detail about what he did wrong and its effect and into how much he has learned. I can say that I have been analyzing apology statements for many years and I have never seen this level of detail and introspection. I would have liked him to repeat the apology and say, “I am so sorry.” But other than that the content analysis, which is part of a deception/credibility analysis of the content of his apology shows he has thought about this a great deal and that he has come to a new perspective on his past behavior which is a deeper apology that just saying, “ I apologize.” Count the number of times he says, “I” in the four paragraphs and see how much of the apology is about his status, his feelings and his reflection and you can see that he is highly self-focused. Not the best thing for an apology statement, but pretty standard among politicians and star athletes.

Moments ago at Old City Hall, as part of a peace bond hearing that resulted in his last sexual assault charge being withdrawn, Jian Ghomeshi read his first public statement since October 2014. The text below was copied from a written version of the statement, not transcribed from an audio recording of Ghomeshi’s speech.

I want to apologize to [the complainant, Kathryn] Borel for my behaviour toward her in the workplace. In the last 18 months, I have spent a great deal of time reflecting on this incident and the difficulties I caused Ms. Borel, and I have had to come to terms with my own deep regret and embarrassment.

I enjoyed a position of privilege in my job at the CBC as the host of a program I loved. I was a person in a position of authority and leadership, and I did not show the respect that I should have to Ms. Borel. I did not always lead by example and I failed to understand and truly appreciate the impact of my conduct on Ms. Borel’s work environment. That conduct in the workplace was sexually inappropriate. I realize that there is no way for me to know the full impact on her personally and professionally.

I now recognize that I crossed boundaries inappropriately. A workplace should not have any sexualized tone. I failed to understand how my words and actions would put a co-worker who was younger than me, and in a junior position to mine, in an uncomfortable place. I did not appreciate the damage that I caused, and I recognize that no workplace friendship or creative environment excuses this sort of behaviour, especially when there is a power imbalance as there was with Ms. Borel. This incident was thoughtless and I was insensitive to her perspective and how demeaning my conduct was towards her. I understand this now. This is a challenging business to be in and I did not need to make it more difficult for Ms. Borel. The past 18 months have been an education for me. I have reflected deeply and have been working hard to address the attitudes that led me, at the time, to think that this was acceptable.

I apologize to my family for letting them down and in particular for the impact that all of this has had on my dear mother and sister. I apologize for the burden my actions have placed on those dear friends who have stood by me throughout this difficult time. I regret my behaviour at work with all of my heart and I hope that I can find forgiveness from those for whom my action took such a toll.

Science Of The Perfect Handshake

I was interviewed by INC.com on the science of the perfect handshake. Below are my insights that I shared with INC.com. For more information you can read the handshake chapter in my book SNAP! Making the Most of First Impressions Body Language and Charisma or go to the book's website www.snapfirstimpressions.com The link to the actual article is at the end of the post.

Get a Grip - If you want to make a good impression, you need to know how to give a good handshake. Patti Wood, a body language coach who has worked with Fortune 500 companies such as Deloitte and Hewlett-Packard, shares her secrets behind the perfect handshake

Go for the greeting early - Wood suggests that you always extend your hand first, in order to rid the encounter of uncertainty (which studies show can bemore stressful for some people than physical pain).

Use facial cues Wood says that good handshakes should be accompanied by an "eyebrow flash"--a raising up of the eyebrows for less than one second--and a slight smile. "It sends a message that I acknowledge you, and I like you," Wood says.

Scoop your hand upward - Even if you have a firm grip, it's still unpleasant to receive a limp shake of the wrist. Wood suggests extending your arm out with your fingers pointed downward, and then scooping your hand up into the other person's to offset a weak grip.

Put away the cell phone - One of the biggest mistakes Wood sees her clients make is looking at their cell phones while or before shaking hands, as it makes you look distracted and uninterested.

Face forward - Particularly if you are meeting with a potential client or important new partner, Wood says to face forward while giving a handshake, rather than to the side, to reinforce the idea that you are open and engaged in the interaction.

Prevent a bone-crushing handshake - Caught in too firm a grip? Placing your hand over the other person's hand will restrict movement and give you more physical control over the encounter. Wood calls this the "double" or "glove" handshake.

Close with a verbal accompaniment

Wood says it's important to add a "nice to meet you," or continue to converse with the other person. That's because people are more likely to recall the last portion of the interaction, in a phenomenon known as the recency effect.

Link to the INC.com article:

http://www.inc.com/anna-hensel/ss/science-of-perfect-handshake.html

Body Language Read of Adam Levine and Behati Prinsloo

I love the red dress photo of Adam Levine and Behati Prinsloo. They are loved V’d into one another in a way that shows he reveals his true self to her. And his head tilt towards her combined with his large tooth showing smile declare his happiness with her. I love how Behati has a playful head rest on his head and also has a toothy grin. Their tit for tat hand resting show their physical affection for one another.

Five out of five for the real connection shown on the True Love Scale.

Walking photos are always complex to read of course I don’t like their distance from one another and that he is on the move and she is looking at him trying to figure him out as if he is a mythical animal she hasn’t seen before. (Yep that’s what I see) His energy is down not its usual up and back, happy and proud. The fact that she is lifting a foot at the same time he lifts shows she will follow him. And the hand hold shows their connection. She lifts up his fingers and he lifts up hers. They are there for each other.

Though this photo is only a 3

Podcasts on Dating and Finding the Right Guy

Podcasts on Dating and Finding the Right Guy

Patti’s podcast available May 7^th through Saturday May 21^st

All of the expert interviews on dating will be available for listeners to access from Saturday, May 7th through Saturday May 21st. Teagin will be hosting a live Q&A call as the series comes to a close. If you visit the DateDifferently.com, you'll see a section called "Notes from Teagin" that shares more details.

Patti Wood, Body Language Expert Reading The Body Language of Kelly Ripa for Entertainment Tonight

Here is the link to my body language read of Kelly Ripa and Michael on Kelly's first day and second day back on the show after the announcement that Michael is leaving to join the Today Show.

https://youtu.be/y7W435NLMwE

Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at www.PattiWood.net. Check out Patti's website for her new book "SNAP, Making the Most of First Impressions, Body Language and Charisma" at www.snapfirstimpressions.com. Also check out Patti's YouTube channel at http://youtube.com/user/bodylanguageexpert.