How Your Face Speaks Before You Do

Author: Gillian Maddigan

August 2025

We’re constantly communicating. Even when we’re silent, something’s being said, through a glance, a raised eyebrow, a tense jaw. It’s not just about words. It’s visual, emotional, and tactile. Some people speak loudest with their presence, others with expression. And every face tells a story, whether we realise it or not.

I’ve looked at many faces, not just to observe but to understand. Certain features hold a history; they’ve grown from their life experiences and the need and drive to feel safe. One person might have wide eyes that drink in everything. Another might have ears that sit far back, listening before they speak.

Eyes, Ears, Lips, and Jaw: The Unspoken Dialogue

Some faces light up with expression. Others sit still, but you can feel what’s moving underneath. When I meet someone with large, open eyes, I usually know I’m talking to someone who is visual. They see the world first. They need to see your face, your gestures. That’s why texting might leave them cold, but a video call pulls them in.

Then there are people with full lips, mouths that seem to say, "I want to taste life, feel it." They speak in textures and flavours, and you know they’re grounded in the physical. A strong jaw? That’s someone who takes action, not just talking about ideas, but living them.

And ears. People forget about their ears. Ears tell you a lot. If they’re prominent, well-shaped, and placed in balance, you’re probably looking at a natural listener. But even that depends on where they sit, how they angle, whether they hug the skull or stand out slightly. Each variation hints at a nuance in how they take in the world.

How We Take Things In

Some people are wired to listen. They genuinely hear you. But too much noise, and they shut down, overwhelmed. Others need to see to believe. They watch your body language more than they hear your words. Then there are those who need to do something. They learn by being shown, by touching, by trying. Show, don’t tell; that’s their language.

And Then We Express

But the way we take things in isn’t always the way we respond. I’ve met people who are kinesthetic, who absorb through their body, but express through emotion. Or visual people who process what they see, then go inward before responding with carefully chosen words. And people like me, visual and kinesthetic, we feel what we see, and see what we feel. It’s not always easy. A bad taste or a sour smell can become a visual echo.

Reading the Signs

Over time, I’ve noticed the patterns:

• The quiet ones who pause after listening, then offer a sharp insight, are auditory, mental processors.
• The ones who react to images and speak in emotional metaphors are visual-emotional.
• The movers and doers, who start acting before you finish the sentence, they’re physical and mental.

Brows and the Emotional Zone

Eyebrows are like antennas. They tell you if someone is more in their head or heart. If they slant down, they might suppress emotion and lean into logic. If they lift and curve, they’re probably open, emotionally expressive, responsive to how things feel rather than what they mean.

The area between the brows and the nose bridge, the emotional zone, is also telling. When that space is wide or pronounced, you’re likely dealing with someone who feels deeply. They might not always say it, but it’s there.

It's Not Just Theory, It’s Practical

This isn't just face-reading for the sake of curiosity. It matters, especially if you want to connect. The best connectors don’t just speak well, they listen in your language. They see how you see. They touch what matters to you.

You can either force open a door with your own tools or learn the correct key to unlock it. It’s not about manipulation; it’s about respect and recognition.

A Few Things to Think About

• How do you really communicate?
• Do you express the way you receive?
• Are you tuned in to others’ modes, or just your own?
• Have you ever misread someone because you assumed they think like you?

Maybe if people aren’t hearing you, you’re not speaking in a way they’re wired to listen.