A slumped posture can demonstrate a lack of confidence or boredom. Averted eye contact can be an indicator that a person is uncomfortable, self-conscious, or even lying. Crossed arms can signal defensiveness or disagreement. A forced smile can mean insincerity.
When someone has low self-esteem, they're often pessimistic and critical of everything. They take these negative feelings out on people who are close to them and have a hard time being positive about anything. This pessimism stems from a feeling of not having control over one's future and life success.
Avoid tipping your head or body to the side or rocking forward and back, but keep an upright posture with head, neck, and shoulders relaxed. The wider and more controlled yet relaxed your hand movements, the more confident you appear.
If you are nervous, you might frown, look worried or look away. If you are wary or uneasy, you might look guarded, defensive or cross your arms. If you feel shy or unsure, you might cover your mouth or face with your hand or look at the ground.
These visual cues indicating low confidence may include a “thinking face,” changes in gaze, eyebrow and head movements, and postural movements. In contrast, high confidence may be more marked by direct eye contact, a serious face and an upright posture.
Steepling is a hand gesture that has long been used by presidents, business leaders and politicians to convey authority and confidence.
Physical, sexual, or emotional abuse may be the most striking and overt causes of low self-esteem. Being forced into a physical and emotional position against your will can make it very hard to like the world, trust yourself or trust others, which profoundly impacts self-esteem.
On the other hand, low self-confidence might make you feel full of self-doubt, be passive or submissive, or have difficulty trusting others. You may feel inferior, unloved, or be sensitive to criticism. Feeling confident in yourself might depend on the situation.
Body Language that Signals Weakness and Negativity:
Slumping. Making yourself small. Touching your face or neck. Folding your arms.
Lerner (2009) described PYD as a process that promotes the “5Cs”: competence, confidence, connection, character, and caring.
It turns out the #1 thing you can do to look and feel confident is… The full frontal. The full frontal pose is when your neck, belly, and privates are not being blocked2 . Your hands are at the side of your body or behind your back, and you have an open, relaxed posture.
People with body confidence don't worry about the way their bodies look, and feel free to be themselves; free to enjoy and pursue activities and interests. This helps boost their self-esteem.
Shyness can mean feeling uncomfortable, self-conscious, nervous, bashful, timid, or insecure. People who feel shy sometimes notice physical sensations like blushing or feeling speechless, shaky, or breathless. Shyness is the opposite of being at ease with yourself around others.
Severely shy people may have physical symptoms like blushing, sweating, a pounding heart or upset stomach; negative feelings about themselves; worries about how others view them; and a tendency to withdraw from social interactions. Most people feel shy at least occasionally.
He might exhibit subtle signs to show you that he's interested in you, such as being around you, sending you gifts, smiling at you, or sharing his secrets with you. All you need to do is draw him out and make him feel comfortable enough to open up to you.
Lacking confidence.
Shyness, difficulty being assertive, or low self-worth can hinder your ability to make your needs and opinions known. Also, a lack of awareness of your own rights and opportunities in a given situation can prevent you from expressing your needs openly.