Wow. Great discussion over here. Not only are we all reactive communicators but it seems many of us have RBF as well!!

Actually I have LBF (listening bitch face) and I only figured this out 2 weeks ago when I was working in Tanzania. After we'd conducted a focus group a Maasai lady told me (in Swahili…needed translation) something to the effect of "We love you...but you look angry…when we see that we think we have said something wrong. When you smile along with us, we are happy." Whoa! And to think I was really thinking about my body language and trying to show that I was engaged in the conversation. Then I realized, when I am listening intently I tend to frown!

So now I am practicing trying to keep my eyebrows in place or even up while smiling! But at least now I don't feel like such a goof knowing that there are others out there who are working on your happy faces, too ;-)

Last edited by ganb8te; 09/23/14 10:30 PM.
H 37 Me 36
Together 15 years
Married 5 years
No kids
BD Apr 2014
H moved out 2 Jun 2014