DR. MICHELLE COHEN: So, we were just talking
about relaxed body behaviors and I was mentioning
some of the facial gestures you can do. But
now, focusing completely on the face, if you
really want to look relaxed in an interview
or a social situation of any kind, as I mentioned,
it's great to keep kind of looking at the
person. Not glaring at them, but keep your
eyes open. Don't squint. Remember, anything
that shows tension is the opposite of relaxation.
So, you don't want to clench your teeth. You
may want to nod your head slightly. It's always
great to keep some kind of a smile and if
it's a real genuine smile, that would help
as well, because a fake smile indicates discomfort
or nervousness. So, a slight relaxed smile.
Also, if you don't have bangs over your head,
your forehead may also indicate that you're
nervous, so relax your forehead and relax
your face, smile, tilt your head gently. Do
slow down your speech sometimes, to where
it sounds normal, of course. And a really
good trick to helping yourself relax, and
this is just especially going to show up in
the face, is to breathe. This is one of the
easiest tools you can do very quickly before
going in to an interview or a social situation.
And what I always have my clients do is take
time, sit down, breathe in through the nose
all the way up, hold it for a few seconds,
and then breathe out through the nose or through
the mouth, rather, very slowly, all the way
out. Do this about three times, in and out
very slowly. This will kind of relax the body
and the face. And then, it will prepare you
go into a social situation appearing more
relaxed.