When we press our lips together, it is as if the limbic brain is telling us to shut down and not allow anything into our bodies, because at this mome… - Joe Navarro

If you wish to enhance your effectiveness as a persuasive speaker — at home, at work, even with friends — attempt to become more expressive in your use of hand movements. [...] Whether you naturally speak with your hands or not, recognize that we communicate our ideas more effectively when we employ our hands.

I have come to realize that there are two principal things we should look for and focus on: comfort and discomfort. [...] Learning to read comfort and discomfort cues (behaviors) in others accurately will help you decipher what their bodies and minds are truly saying.

One of the most important observations you can make in relation to the hands is noticing when they go dormant. When the hands stop illustrating and emphasizing, it is usually a clue to a change in brain activity (perhaps because of a lack of commitment) and is cause for heightened awareness and assessment.