Liv Walde
Being deeply observant is a trait often linked to the quiet and reserved amongst us.
If you think you fall into this category, you’ll know how sometimes your discreet nature gets interpreted as being aloof or antisocial.
Being misunderstood sucks, but a more placid and inconspicuous presence also brings with it great benefits.
Wallflowers are able to see and hear things that many other people overlook.
Whilst in a social setting other people might by vying for the spotlight or cutting in to have their voice heard, deeply observant souls tend to stay on the outskirts and watch these interactions.
Through doing so, they pick up on signs and gestures that easily go unnoticed.
This attention to detail often gives them a head start on understanding people and their motives that the loud, brash, and confident miss.
It’s a pretty great quality to have.
Consider yourself deeply observant?
Well then, would you also notice these 10 details that deeply observant people notice about others?
1) They notice when you’re having a bad day
Deeply observant individuals who you’re particularly close to will set you at a baseline.
Any deviations from the norm will be picked up upon quickly and pointed out.
There’s no wasting time stewing alone in your misery and working up the confidence to tell your partner/friend/colleague about how bad your day or life is going.
Often, they’ll have picked up on changes in your mood or behavior before you even get the chance to open your mouth and say, “I need to talk about something…”.
They might not broach the topic before you do out of respect, but be sure that they’re well aware of when you’re not on top form.
They’re also no doubt trying to piece together why you’re not feeling so great and what they could do to help.
2) They notice minor changes in appearance
Listen, not everyone will notice when you get your haircut.
Which is also a bit disheartening if you’ve just dropped $400 on a balayage.
But fear not, the deeply observant out there will instantly pick up on a new haircut, a new tattoo, a new style you’re trying out.
They might not compliment your new hairdo, but they sure will notice it.
3) And notice when those changes need to be addressed
Even tiny details, they’ll notice.
Like a new bruise or sudden weight loss.
Deeply observant people pick up on changes that often go over other people’s heads.
They’re also usually the ones to tackle tricky conversations when the physical appearance of a loved one is slightly…off.
4) They notice when someone’s body language doesn’t match what they’re saying
Excellent judges of character, deeply observant people tend to be able to match up body language and words.
Someone who is not concentrating or paying attention might miss subtle signs of a lie, for example.
“I promise I was alone on Tuesday evening” might sound fool proof and credible.
However, micro facial expressions or an inability to meet your eye could suggest the speaker is telling a lie.
(Although they might also just be really anxious).
These tiny gestures and expressions often happen so fast, only the highly observant manage to pick up on them, meaning that they often see through people’s facades a lot quicker than the average person.
Good luck trying to get a lie past them.
5) They know when you’re evading a question
Or topic. Or anything else.
“What do you think about my new boyfriend?”
“I liked his car. I’ve always wanted a Mercedes. Speaking of, have you ordered the Uber?”
Nice try.
Deflection or trying to tactfully evade questions won’t slip under an observant individual’s nose so easily.
They can’t be so easily fooled by mindgames or redirection, and will always notice if you try to avoid talking about a topic or engaging in a certain conversation.
6) They notice when someone’s being left out
Some people get lost in the shadows in social situations.
They get interrupted, talked over, or ignored.
Deeply observant but confident individuals might still be quiet, but they will politely redirect the spotlight on to whoever has been ignored or overlooked when this happens.
They can tell when someone’s feeling left out and are the first ones to spot this and remedy the situation.
7) They notice how much time people spend on their phones
You can’t be deeply observant and have one eye on your phone the whole time.
It doesn’t work like that.
Deeply observant individuals tend to be less glued to their phones than the rest of society nowadays.
In having lower screen times, they also pick up on who is addicted to their phones.
Those who absolutely have to refresh their notifications every 2 minutes, who think they’re doing this in a very subtle manner?
Yeah, they’re not going unnoticed.
8) They notice when people start dabbling in bad habits
The attention to detail and change means that deeply observant individuals will often pick up on the bad habits you’re trying to hide.
Whether it’s biting your nails, drinking a little too much, or downloading gambling apps – chances are you’re not going to be able to hide it from someone who has a keen eye for things like this.
Erratic behavior never escapes their attention.
You might think you’re doing a stellar job of hiding the fact that you’ve resumed smoking from that person, but trust me.
They know.
They just haven’t confronted you about it yet.
9) They notice when someone has been through a tough time
And by that I don’t mean a tough day.
Sometimes the happiest of people harbor the darkest of secrets.
People who are good at quietly observing tend to be able to pick up on indications of past trauma or other life changing events someone might have experienced.
In appropriate settings, I wouldn’t be too surprised if they approach a newcomer or a friend and ask curiously and politely about their past.
They don’t go off gut feelings or intuition, but rather a hawk’s eye that allows them to notice small details and build up to the bigger picture that many don’t see.
10) They notice how their friends treat others
Highly observant individuals tend to form healthy relationships as it’s difficult to fool or manipulate them.
They’re not easily led astray by lies or smoke and mirrors, and can quickly see whether or not someone has good intentions.
Thus, their long-term relationships are healthy and formed with people who they consider of genuine and moral character.
However, they’re still able to observe and analyze the relationships their friends and loved one’s form from an objective outside perspective.
So don’t be surprised if your deeply observant friend notices that your new partner is incredibly rude to waitstaff and flags this.
Or if they quietly comment on how a new friend of yours doesn’t seem quite as sincere as they make out.
Although having this frank input can be difficult to hear, it’s also incredibly valuable and can save you many a nasty relationship.
Even if you’re not the deeply observant individual, having a trusted friend who is can mean you have someone to rely on, who has excellent observational skills and the analytical ability to weed out the good from the bad.
Final thoughts
Being deeply observant can be very tiring.
If you fall into this category, you’ll know that it comes as both a blessing and a curse.
Sometimes you wish you weren’t so skilled at being able to see through people and understand how truly fickle they are.
Wouldn’t it be nicer to just take everyone and everything at face value, with a touch of blissful ignorance?
But equally, you would never be able to give up your love of people-watching and learning about the world and those within it.
Your capacity to observe and to understand is unmatched, and allows you to better navigate relationships and interactions.
And if you don’t think you fall into the category of a deeply observant individual, that’s okay.
Maybe you understand the thinking process of your quiet wallflower friend a little better, and realize that they are after all always right in the judgements they make about people.
Taking a moment to watch, to learn, and to listen, is a skill of great patience.
Yet the ability to slow down and to observe will prove very useful in sussing new people out and keeping on top of your friend’s new haircuts (both very important).
