We Are All Literally Two-Faced

"Your face is my map to your life." - Houdini, magician

We are all literally and unwittingly two-faced. To learn more about how you present yourself to the world, and your underlying, more "private" feelings, you just have to look yourself in the face. What to get out a mirror now, before you read further? Do you attract or alienate your insurance prospects and longtime staff?

You constantly present two aspects of yourself, on the two sides of your face. Recent research on the different functions of the left and right sides of the brain helps to explain why this is so. The two, vertical halves of the face are each affected by the nerves of the opposite side of the brain and show the world different parts of how you feel.

In fact, the two sides of your face, like the two sides of your body -- -the left and the right -- are usually asymmetrical and unequal in proportion. Look at yourself in the mirror -- full-face and full length -- to see the differences.

In short, your face is your shorthand to your body language.

Your expressions, in repose, are icons of your attitudes toward life.

The left side is your more "private" part of your personality and your right is the more "public" side of your face. The left often looks less happy than the right. Most subjects who have been analyzed projected their wish images upon their left side of their face and their right side related more to their real or basic self-image and attitude towards the world.

Your face's right side often appears more pleasant, sensitive, vulnerable and/or open in expression. The left side is less expressive than the right and tends to reflect the hidden, severe, stern and/or depressed aspects you usually intend to keep private from the world -- and sometimes even from yourself.

The left side is more likely to register negative emotions, while the right side tends to reflect the more positive and optimistic, but not necessarily phony part of your personality.

"When I smile I must also show the grimace behind it."

- Live Ullman, actress, author

Since the right side of the brain has more control over the left side of the body -- including the face -- then it stands to reason that the research on how the brain is organized, left and right, can give us insights into how we literally face the world and how we can better understand others. The left brain -- reflected more in the right side of the face -- relates to logic, pragmatic thinking, practicality and language.

The right part of the brain, in turn, relates more to intuition, imagination, and other more creative leanings.

The basic gut feelings, including your attitude towards yourself and your life emanate from your right brain. You express them more in the left side of your face.

We do not see things as they are; we see them as we are.

The more controlled or conscious responses -- the social mask you put on for the world -- may be processed more by the pragmatic left brain and appear more readily on the right side of the face.

Now you may be getting lost in "lefts" and "rights" of all this, but let's continue with some experiments you can conduct to learn more about yourself and others for whom you have strong feelings (like or dislike) in your life.

How Do You See the World?

Ironically, the right brain is more actively involved in observing the world -- which it does predominantly through your left eye. And, when you face someone, your left eye is across from the other person's right side. Therefore, you are more aware of their right side. But you are thus most noticing the side of the other person's face which is more connected with the left or "logical" and less revealing side. You miss facing the part of their face that is most likely to show underlying "true" feelings.

"Public / Private Face" Exercise

Here is a rather intimate exercise to do with someone -- and it doesn't involve disrobing or even touching. Sit facing each other. Now look at the left and the right sides of the other person's face. Does the right side show a more open, less tense presence? Does the left look more reserved, serious? The left side, that is their left side, is the more private face, remember, and the right side is their more public face. In fact, the left side is likely to show their more basic disposition. As you face each other, discuss your observations, one side at a time.

"The face is the most memorable part of the body and the eyes are the most memorable part of the face."

- Werner Wolff, psychiatrist and hypnotist

"Driver's License Photo Show" Exercise

Now try this experiment. Get out your driver's license. Look at both sides of your face, covering one side at a time with a piece of paper. Look "inward" at yourself and see if you observe different aspects of yourself.

You may also want to look back at your family album and look at the progression of your face and your personality development overtime -- and that of others in your family. Look at the childhood albums of close friends and in-laws for other perspectives on them.

"Photo Finish" Exercise

To gain a still more revealing view of yourself, find two photographic negatives of "head and shoulders", close-up pictures of yourself. If you don't have any handy, ask someone to take two pictures of you; offer to do the same for them and compare notes on this exercise.

Cut both negatives of yourself vertically in half, down the center of your face. Flop over one side of each negative.

Take a glossy-coated side and a dull-coated side of the left side of your face from the two negatives, and ask your camera shop to print it to create a "left-left" photo. Take a glossy and a dull-sided half of your face and also get a "right-right" print made.

Thus, instead of the normal right-left photo of your actual face, the joined half negatives become right-right and left-left faces. You will then see exaggerated versions of both aspects of yourself -- and will probably be able to see each more clearly.

Kare Anderson is the author of LikeABILITY (see Grand Store on her site), Make Yourself Memorable and SmartPartnering. A popular speaker on SmartPartnering and on how to be more frequently-quoted to become your kind of customers' top-of-mind choice, she also publishs the SayitBetter newsletter, with 32,000 subscribers in 28 countries.

More Resources

10 Powerful Tenets Of Personal & Professional Leadership Using The Law Of Attraction
Leadership is an innate ability in all of us. Using the principals of the Law of Attraction to strengthen our leadership and consciously use it in our personal and professional endeavors will not only attract more success to us it will allow us to be of service to others and make a valuable contribution.
Why Cant You be More Like Me?
Here is a non-scientific, but fun way to see which style you may be. Read the poem below and then identify which one of the styles is most like you.
Teach Me Who You Are
We all have a privately held belief system that defines who we think we are. This belief system is composed of ideas that we have accumulated over time that we think describe us accurately.
To Be A Cut Above The Rest!
Mannerisms and personality traits go a long way in making impressions on other people. Some people unknowingly have mannerisms, which humor others.
Improve Your Conversations By Watching Talk Show Hosts
If you want to learn how to be a good conversationalist, a really useful place to start is by watching television!Not just any television mind you - you can learn a lot about how to have successful conversations by watching talk show hosts!One of the most important qualities exhibited by good talk show hosts on television that you can easily incorporate into your own conversations is the way they really pay attention to the person they are talking with.The most successful talk show hosts demonstrate great curiosity in hearing what the person they are interviewing has to say.
Demanding Miracles
Have you ever had an overwhelming problem or issue? Was there some circumstance in your life that seemed beyond your ability to handle it? Have you ever called out to God, Buddha, guardian angels, The Force, your higher self, Mohammed, Mother Earth, whatever name you give that spirit? To find an all-encompassing name without prejudice towards any one belief system, I'll just hereby use the word 'god' to refer to whatever or whoever it is that you pray to for assistance and guidance. Have you cried out to your god for help and guidance with some crisis in your life? Did you get an answer? Did you get help?When we get the help and assistance we've just asked for, we assume all is well in the heavens.
Limited Thought, Limited Experience
I was reminded once again the other day about how well we limit ourselves and take on the values of others and their limitations.I was in one of our morning sales meetings and just barely awake trying to concentrate on other things.
Social Skills Training Can Positively Impact Your Life
Millions of people become anxious and insecure when speaking in public, starting a conversation, or mingling with others in a social setting.There are a large number of individuals who are extremely successful in their professional lives, but tend to shy away from meeting new people, attending social functions, and interpersonal communication.
Unexpected Wisdom
If you have ever traveled across country by train, you know that meals are served with community seating. That means you can meet new people with every meal.
Courage to Change
This is a story about a woman we will call Anne, a thirty-five-year-old woman who concluded that she could never find a man. She determined that loneliness was her fate and thus went as far as accepting it as fact.
Some Straight Talk About Your Success And Happiness
I want to warn you: this article can cause some discomfort, indignation and sense of insult in minds of people who are not ready to be successful. If you are not ready to face the truth, please don't read this article, because I don't want to hurt your feelings for nothing.
Brainology... Lets Start Learning Something Everyday, Every Moment
Every normal human being learn in his life's each and every minute. He is gaining experience every moment.
Motivation for Life: What Would You Do if You Could Have a Do Over?
"The only thing it takes 365 days to change is a year" - Hypnotherapist David Block"If at any time you make a mistake and want to change your selection, press the star key on the telephone pad." - AMC 20 Movie Theater recordingBoth of the above quotes imply a radical shift in popular thinking about change.
Ten Tips For Setting (And Keeping) Life Changing Resolutions
It's time for that annual ritual of making (and breaking) our New Year's resolutions. There is something about the idea of being able to start over that motivates us to pause (at least briefly) and reflect on our lives as they are, as well as how we would like them to be.
How to Take Control of Your Self Confidence
If you think success, happiness and love are going to happenwithout learning through mistakes along the way you are mistaken.Our brains are wired to learn from our own experiences as well asthose of others.
Afloat on A Sea of Abundance
In the days of the mighty sailing ships, when brave souls voyaged into the unknown, dependent on the winds and their as-yet incomplete knowledge of geography and navigation, one of the greatest and most dangerous challenges was to traverse the area known as "the doldrums."Extending about 30 degrees on either side of the equator, the doldrums are subject to days, weeks, even months of no wind at all.
Once Upon A Time There Was No Money
Once in a while a book comes along that can change your way of thinking for the better. A book that free's the mind of its old limitations.
What Characters Teach Us about Character
Character is that which defines us; it's what people will remember about us long after we're gone. The TV News, Radio Talk Shows, News-Magazines and the daily Paper are replete with stories about characters.
Some Gals Have All the Luck: How to Create Your Own Good Luck
You probably know a few. These gals marry the millionaire.
14 Relationship Principles to Live A Successful Relationship
Each relationship combines two individual stories to coauthor a new relationship story. The implicit contracts authored by each party in a relationship become unspoken assumptions that can facilitate or derail the relationship.

More Attraction Information:

Related Articles

Letting Go Of Wanting Your Own Approval
Ever had a time in your life when those closest to youdisapproved of your behavior? It is very uncomfortable is it not?In a moment, peace of mind can vanish in a puff of smoke and youcrave approval more than anything else. This time in thewilderness seems to last forever and when it is finally over thenewly earned approval of your peers feels just great.
The Likeability Factor - Do You Have It?
Growing up, we all had a mental picture of the perfect life partner The person we thought would be our happily-ever-after -- a person with a perfect smile, beautiful eyes, and an adorable button nose. Fast forward to reality and who did you wind up with?Chances are that if your partner of choice happens to be male, you ended up with a guy who is shorter than you expected, has less hair than you anticipated, but overall is a pretty neat fellow.
Get More Personal
Most folks who know me, know that when people write me I always like to write back and show how much I appreciate the message. I do stay busy, but taking the time to write back is something that's very important to me.
Why Do We Lack Character
Our people have no character" is acknowledged universally, at home and abroad, in business and government circles, and in every sphere of administrative activity. Lack of character produces social imbalance and leads ultimately to national decline and disintegration.
Principles for Total Prosperity In Business And Beyond
Are you looking for that "something" to give you the winning edge in your business? Is success still elusive even after burning both ends of the candle? Well, you may be looking for success in al the wrong places or you may not have an accurate picture of what true success is.In a fast-paced society that's driven by a mentality of "more is better," extreme stress and lack of fulfillment are inevitable in every facet of our lives, including work.
4 Helpful Ways To Beat Shyness
Over half of all adults identify themselves as shy. Shyness can get in the way of developing personal relationships and professional aspirations.
The Good, The Bad & The Ugly
Most of us don't want to admit we have a dark side. And from that dark side we do attract some ugly stuff.
How to Manage Self Consciousness
Self consciousness is an essential part of being human, but it can make social situations really tricky sometimes. Here's what you can do about it if it happens to you.
Purpose of Choice
Tornadic weather threatens southeastern Colorado and life on the plains takes a turn again. Interestingly enough, books are written, movies are made, and life happens while the winds blow and the rains fall.
Do You Choose to Believe in Choice? (Not for the Faint of Heart)
What role if any, does 'choice' play in the shape and direction our lives take? Is there a choice in what can and will happen in our lives?The predetermined 'body/mind'First of all, what possibly can happen to an individual (i.e.
How To Use Affirmations To Create Prosperity?
Dear Internet friend. Each human being is an incrediblepiece of sowtware.
Power Affirmations Are Not Enough
I hope this article finds you safe and well. I'm sure you have been as moved as I have in watching the devastating damage caused by Hurricane Katrina.
Abundance Flourishes in an Atmosphere of Integrity
There's no way to fake INTEGRITY. You are either are IN INTEGRITY offering a PURE positive vibration which the Law of Attraction responds to.
4 Simple Steps To The Good Life
If you want to create the good life -- a life filled with more achievement, prosperity and happiness than you could now imagine -- all you really need to do is faithfully follow four simple steps. Really.
What Is Your Legacy?
During a recent speech, I told the audience that my mission was to empower the self-employed to succeed. Instantly a hand shot up in the audience.
The Chi of New Homes: Feng Shui-ness and Destiny
When my wife and I were searching for a new Las Vegas home in 2002, we wanted it to have a solid foundation based on Feng Shui principles. My wife researched the essentials and we decided to build a home that met our needs and supported good Chi.
Reminding Yourself of Prosperity
Have you ever heard the phrase, "Thoughts are things and words have wings?" This phrase is the perfect expression of the principle of prosperity. How you think about and talk about your level of prosperity is what actually manifests in your life.
Give The Wrong Words An Inch And They May Take A Mile!
What do you do when circumstances seem out of control? What's the first thing you look for? Or Whom? What immediately runs through your mind? Do you yell? Do you curse? Do you go bow up your back like a porcupine getting ready for all out war?By Word Of Mouth!There is something that every one of us has been taught to do since we were born and yet so few people know how to control it. We have been taught how to talk, but still don't know how to control our mouth.
Yes You Can
If you could change one thing in your life today, what would it be? Why don't you have some of the things you'd like to have, and why do you have some? What's the reason for the inconsistency?Do you find yourself wondering what people think of you? Has that line of thinking ever made you doubt your abilities and your potential?Do you ever catch yourself thinking 'I can't do that, I'm not good enough' or 'that level of success and prosperity is for them, not for poor old me', or other similar thoughts?One thing you must realize is that your success in any venture starts with your thoughts about it. If you think you can succeed (in losing weight, stopping smoking, securing a high-income- paying job, finding your ideal partner, etc, etc), you're already on your way to getting what you want.
A Fun Way To Make A Living
"You must be willing to do the things today others won't do, in order to have the things tomorrow others won't have." -Les BrownI had planned to spend that Saturday morning quietly at home with my family.