The head clasp......................................................................................
Wherever the stakes are high, be they on the sporting field, on election night,
or on the trading floor of an investment bank, and despair is in the air, you
see people clasping their heads as if they’re creating a manual crash helmet.
The head clasp is a protective gesture in which the hands rise up and cover
the top of the head.Head clasping is a natural response to calamity, real or imagined, and acts as
a metaphorical shield, protecting the head from psychological damage.Showing Boredom ..........................................................................................
Someone who is bored props her head in her hand. Her eyes droop at half-
mast and before you know it she’s nodding off. Resting your head in your
hand is reminiscent of your childhood, when someone would support your
head when you were tired. You rest your head in the palm of your hand
because your head feels too heavy to stay upright on its own. Your palm
cushions your cheek and your chin drops in a nod. You’re usually bored
when what you’re doing doesn’t inspire you or meet your abilities. You may
even feel tired and fed up.Take comfort in knowing that you’re not alone if you’ve ever felt bored. You
can recognise the signs of boredom in yourself and others.Figure 3-3:
The head
cradle
provides
comfort and
security.Chapter 3: Heading to the Heart of the Matter 57