and dislike (seven years in the making). My daughter was unaware that
her squinting behavior had given away her true feelings about the girl,
yet the information stood out like a beacon to me (see figure 63).
The same phenomenon is seen in the business world. When custom-
ers or clients suddenly squint while reading a contract, they are likely
struggling with something in the wording of the text, the discomfort or
doubt registering immediately in their eyes. Most likely these business
associates will be totally unaware they are transmitting this very clear
message of disagreement or dislike.
In addition to squinting when ill at ease, some individuals will lower
their eyebrows after observing something unsettling in their environ-
ment. Arched eyebrows signify high confidence and positive feelings (a
gravity-defying behavior), whereas lowered eyebrows are usually a sign
of low confidence and negative feelings, a behavior that indicates weak-
ness and insecurity in a person (see box 49).
Squinting can be very brief—1 ⁄ 8 of
second—but in real time may reflect a
negative thought or emotion.Fig. 63THE MIND’S CANVAS 175