According to Psychologist Susan O’Grady, “The human face is associated with our identity; we are recognized more through our eyes than through any other facial feature.” The APA handbook of nonverbal communication even says that the eyes offer such rich social information that adults and infants alike show a natural attraction to the entire face.
When two people initially fall in love, they can spend a significant amount of time gazing into each other’s eyes while at dinner or lying in bed. But at some point, it is easy to stop making eye contact. Our relationships become time poor, there are more distractions, kids come into the picture, and our devices take most of our eye time. We may go an entire day without truly seeing our partner. And when we fail to notice each other, intimacy begins to dissipate slowly. Begin to take note of your non-verbal interactions with your partner. Do you still look at each other on a regular basis? Do you return your partner’s gaze? What do you think this might say about your connection?
If you are feeling distant and disengaged – try making eye contact. You will both like you are being heard and really understood. You will be telling your significant other that they are the object of your attention in that moment. It signals your utter presence with them.
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