Humans have invented language, and they are very proud of it.

They talk so much that they've ended up abandoning more fundamental methods of communication such as; touching, gestures, eye contact and facial expressions.
These fundamental modes of expression can convey more information, faster than speech can, but they can also express messages that cannot be transmitted by language.

Even if no one can see, the fetus is continuously conveying its emotions through facial expressions and gestures.
Adults do the same, and their face is set into motion just by thinking about something, even if no one is around.

Primates have evolved away from scent signals towards visual ones; so, they use their faces extensively to communicate.
They have developed their facial muscles more than any other type of animal.

These muscles are controlled directly by the nervous system and express their emotions.

This is why facial expressions represent the most natural mode of communication.

Facial expressions are also cross-culturally understood.

Several species have hairless regions, eyebrows or colors to improve intelligibility.

Humans are apes, and they are experts at making faces.

Researchers have often tried to define and number the various emotions we feel.
They use simple words to represent intricate psychological and physiological reactions.

In fact, understanding what a person is conveying with a particular facial expression depends on several additional factors; such as the context and the relationship between the individuals.

I'm a very sociable person who meets hundreds of strangers every day.
I generally don't have to talk to these people to relate with them.
I use eye contact, facial expressions, gestures and postures.
I find I can express myself better and faster this way.
I consider that facial expression form a complex and complete language.
However, many humans are social and communication Peewees; so they have problems expressing themselves that way.

Human grooming lets you use your nails and fingertips to remove dead cells and unfold the skin of your face.
Etched-in facial expressions can be gradually erased by applying grooming techniques on them.
The following video will get you started:

Emotions don't go on and off instantaneously.
They linger and simmer down slowly inside of you.

Your facial expressions show this.

If you're mad, it may take hours before you calm down.

During this time, you will still express other feelings as you live them, but they will all be tainted by your being mad.

An observant human, mostly one who knows you, will read all these subtleties on your face.

In reality, we often voluntarily express several feelings simultaneously.
There is a limit to the complexity, but three or four different emotions can be effectively presented.
This explains why facial expressions are so diversified and cannot be reduced to a single meaning.

In the wild, many animals will avoid eye-contact in several situations.
Looking at someone else in the eyes may be taken as an aggressive gesture; so it is best for them to look elsewhere.
Even among a same species, lower rank individuals will shy away from looking at their leaders directly into the eyes.
This is a submissive behavior and civilized humans should not act that way.

Establishing visual contact with the people you cross in society is very important.
It informs others of your immediate intentions:
Are you gonna go left, right or straight?
Do you see me or are you gonna bump into me?

You want to be part of society.
Developing social skills takes time.
Don't go through life ignoring the people you encounter.
Stop relating with just your family and friends.
Show your face and relate with everyone you meet.

In the wild, showing your teeth indicates that you're ready for a fight and that you're not intimidated by the other.

About 30 millions years ago, in the primate family, it became a custom to show their teeth, but in a clenched position.
Two reasons have been put forward:
● Since primates are peaceful animals, presenting a non-aggressive, calm and harmless face to others kept them away from confrontational situations.
● Clenched teeth were also used as a sign of submission by individuals of a lesser rank when they met dominant members of the group.

The expression took a different meaning for each species, but for some, such as the Barbary macaques, it came to express well-being and happiness.

About 7 millions years ago, in the chimpanzee family, the first bipedal humans appeared.
The early human mothers were facing a new problem.
From day one, primate babies stay in continuous skin-to-skin contact with their mom.
Their ancestors had always carried their young on their back while they were foraging for food and going from place to place.
But, with their upright standing position, the human mothers had to put their baby on the ground while they were gathering edibles.
It is thought that the babies reacted with a repressed cry, attempting with their face to seduce their mother and stop her from leaving them.

The smile has been part of human culture for millions of years.
There is a direct link between your brain and your facial muscles that makes you express your happiness by smiling.
It shows your well-being and your social receptiveness.
However, who do we see smiling the most?
Children!
The lives of contemporary humans are so boring that they gradually stop smiling as they age.

A smile represents happiness, well-being, good humor, peace, ..., and a will to relate with others.
Aren't those the feelings you want to experience and express at all times?
Even when you're alone, you're supposed to smile most of the time.

Some will argue that their life isn't easy and that their situation and obligations make their days a drudgery.
If that is the case; change your life.
On the other hand, you could simply change your attitude towards it.
Putting a smile on your face will have a refreshing and rejuvenating effect on the way you see things.
By not smiling in society, you are depriving yourself of the best tool you have to relate with others.
Become a member of humanity; smile!

Human grooming proves that your facial features are only folds in the skin of your face.
All the facial expressions you make during your lifetime get etched into your face.
How many hours do you spend brooding, smiling, being sad, ...

It all adds up, so the result is a mix of your most frequent attitudes.

Expressions held for long periods or with greater intensity will be more engraved.

As you age, your skin becomes folded in a manner that always displays those emotions, even though you possibly aren't feeling them anymore.

You've probably been told not to judge people by their looks.
It makes sense not to discriminate others because of their appearance.
However, engraved facial features don't lie and they give you an adequate portrait of someone's past and personality.
For me, facial expressions are more reliable and truthful than what a person says.

I can detect foul play or bad intentions just by looking at a person's face.

When evil traits become sculpted into someone's features, after being that way all their life, I think it's normal to beware.