The Hundred Simple Secrets of Happy People [33 of 100]

33.....Little things have big meanings.

Tiny things—the tone of your voice, the exact words you use as you go through otherwise ordinary events—communicate volumes.

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Do little things, like a slight change in your facial expression, really matter?
Humans don't swell up like blowfish or change colors like chameleons. Our reactions are seen in more subtle expressions, tones of voice, and body language.
Consider this: recognizing someone's facial expression takes less than one-sixth of a second. We can process expressions from as far as 100 yards away. How can we do this? We pay attention.
Humans are attuned to facial expressions as an indicator of what their companions are thinking. Because we think facial expressions are important, we pay attention to them. Because we pay
attention to facial expressions, we react to them. Because we react, facial expressions become important to our communication. The next time someone asks you if you like the dinner they
made, and you say "It's good," remember the other person is paying attention not only to what you say, but also to other messages you might be communicating.

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Married couples who display sensitivity in communication—who recognize the power of subtle changes in demeanor—rate their satisfaction 17 percent higher than couples who do not.

Notarius 1996