The Importance of Looking

The Importance of Looking Up

Let’s face it — we’ve become a downward looking society. Between smart phones, web-enabled watches and computers, most of us spend the majority of our day looking down. Or, at least away from the people around us. Given the fact that non-verbal communication accounts for 93% of a message (what you are saying to someone), it is big problem if we always look down.

Think for a minute about all of the things you can tell by simply looking at someone. A smile or frown tells whether someone is happy or sad. A furrowed or lifted brow signals confusion or surprise. A tear from an eye indicates sadness or grief. And, blushed cheeks show embarrassment or nerves. If we are constantly looking down, all of these things go unnoticed. And, we are probably missing the true meaning of the message being communicated to us by the other person.