PSA: I look at mouths, not eyes, during conversations

Everyone says you have to look people in the eye, but it makes me too tense. I started watching their mouths instead, and it lets me focus on what they're saying. This way, I feel less stressed and listen better.

3 comments

3 Comments

haydenfisher1mo ago

Thought eye contact was the only way until I tried focusing on lips too. It really does help you catch every word without the pressure.

the_emery1mo ago

@haydenfisher is onto something with the lip reading tip. It cuts through background noise when you can't hear clearly. Try switching between eyes and lips to keep it natural.

the_andrew26d ago

Ever see those videos where they show how much we actually lip read without knowing it? I read once that in a loud bar, a huge chunk of what you understand comes from watching mouth shapes, not just sound. Makes total sense now. I've started doing it in meetings when someone mumbles, and it's way easier than just straining to hear. Kind of wild how much we miss by only looking at eyes.