15 Things Only Incredibly

Observant People Would

Understand
Communication Motivation by Francesca Marinaro
Ive been watching a lot of the new Netflix series Marvels Daredevil
lately. If you know anything about the show (based on the comic book
series by Stan Lee and Bill Everett) you know that Daredevil Matt Murdock
(played by Charlie Cox) is a blind vigilante who prowls the streets of New
York in a black mask to protect the city he loves. In one scene, Matt stands
at the open window of an abandoned building, listening to and identifying
every strain of sound on the street below from the precise pitch of whining
fire engines and police vehicles to snatches of conversation. He can tell
whether or not someones telling the truth by listening to their heart rate,
and midway through the series *SPOILER ALERT!* he tells his best friend
Foggy Nelson that he first felt motivated to take on his Daredevil persona
after he heard a girl crying in an apartment building several blocks away.
While its highly unlikely that even the most observant person can use
their senses the way Matt Murdock does, Matt Murdock is a perfect
example of what goes on in the observant persons brain. Very often we
associate observation with visionwith using our eyes to take in the world
around usbut being observant is much more than seeing. It involves
turning on our brains at full power and soaking in the world with every
molecule of our bodies. Observant people notice everything from the most
insignificant speck of dust to the woman on the bus who smells like she
showers in her favorite perfume. This level of sensory awareness can be
at once a blessing and a curse because noticing everything means having
to concentrate more diligently to filter out background noise or
unimportant details to prioritize information. Here are fifteen things only
incredibly observant people can understand and that everyone else can
learn from if you pay attention!

1. They practice deductive reasoning

Lets use another famous example: Sir Arthur Conan Doyles iconic
consulting detective, the one and only Sherlock Holmes. Well-known for
his powers of observation and deduction, Holmes famously tells his clients
not to leave out a single detail when relating their problems to him, even
the most seemingly insignificant trifle, for as he often says, theres
nothing so important as trifles. He can tell that Watsons had a cold from
the fact that hes lost weight and his slippers are scorched from warming
his feet before the fire, and in his very first case, A Study in Scarlet, he

manages to catch a murderer by, among other things, identifying the

tobacco ash left at the crime scene.
While observant people might not regularly use their skills to solve crimes,
this just proves that attention to detail can make you more attuned to
your surroundings. Observant people might be more likely to be
considerate of others as a result. If they notice that a coworker comes into
the office with mismatched shoes, for instance, they might deduce from
this detail that the person left the house in a rush and maybe isnt having
the best morning, so it might not be the most convenient moment to bring
up that looming project deadline.

2. They can tell when youre lying

Observant people notice body language: posture, eye contact, facial
expressions, and changes in breathing. Its a common belief that when we
lie, we dont make eye contact with the person were lying to. You cant
hide anything from an observant person. Matt Murdock can tell when
Foggy wants to say something but changes his mind just based on the
change in his breathing. So if you have something to say to an observant
person, just spit it out; theyll drag it out of you eventually anyway and
youll feel better for having gotten it off of your chest.

3. They practice mindfulness

All of us are probably guilty of checking our phones or playing Candy
Crush while we wait for the subway or stand in line at the supermarket
because we cant stand boredom, but for observant people this is just an
opportunity to practice mindfulness. Whenever theyre still, they use that
time wisely to hone their senses, soaking in their surroundings, taking in
the intricate beading on the shoes of the woman standing in front of them
or the way the man seated across from them at the bus stop keeps
nervously combing his fingers through his hair. Sometimes they even like
to make up stories; maybe the guy is meeting a secret lover, or maybe
hes nervous about a job interview. These games keep the mind active
and help observant people to remain grounded in the moment.

4. Theyre great listeners

If youre having trouble deciding whether or not to take that new job that
requires a cross-country move or if youre having problems in a
relationship, observant people are great to have around. We all know that
conversations arent just about talking, listening, and responding. We
need to engage the entire body and mind, not just the ears and mouth.
Since observant people tend to be better at grounding themselves in the
moment, they likely have excellent focus and are therefore more likely to
be fully engaged in a conversation. Theyll nod, make eye contact, and
ask questions when appropriate to indicate that theyre fully engaged.

Such active dialogue lends itself well to problem-solving because you can
talk through the situation and examine it from different angles.

5. They have better organizational skills

This characteristic can sometimes be mistaken for obsessivecompulsiveness, and its just a natural side-effect of being attuned to
ones surroundings. Maybe you remember that old episode of Full
House, after DJ and Steph accidentally punch a hole in Dannys bedroom
wall and try to move all of the furniture in the room to cover it. When he
notices something is off, his first words are Who moved the baking-soda
in my underwear drawer?
Since observant people notice everything, when something is out of place,
it throws the universe out of balance, but part of the reason why they can
remain so focused and productive in their everyday lives is because they
have everything they need at their fingertips. No searching for paper-clips
or turning their desk drawers upside-down to find a pen.

6. They have a strong sense of orientation

Since observant people always take in their surroundings, theyre
excellent at spotting landmarks or points of orientation, especially in large
or crowded environments. Always have an observant person with you
when you go to the mall during the Christmas rush because theyll be the
most likely to remember where you parked your car, and they wont be
foolish enough to use non-stationary landmarks like the pea-green
minivan plastered with political bumper stickers that might not be there
by the time you finish shopping.

7. Theyre incredibly analytical

The thing about being incredibly observant is that attention to detail goes
hand in hand with analysis. Observant people, like Sherlock Holmes,
notice everything because everything is important, at least to them.
Lets say youre chatting with your incredibly observant friend about your
recent vacation and exclaim, Me and my husband spent the weekend at
this great hotel! Dont be surprised if the friend responds, my husband
and I, not me and my husband. You cant use objective pronouns in the
subject of a sentence. This might seem picky (and, yeah, it is), but youre
going to want that person around when you need someone to proofread
the report or legal document youve just written because you know theyll
catch every mistake you made, not to mention the ones you didnt realize
you made.

8. Theyre fountains of factual information

If their tendency to correct grammar in casual conversations wasnt

enough of a hint, observant people can be know-it-alls sometimes. Theyre
so used to noticing everything and filing it away in their encyclopedic
brains that they forget that not everyone does this. So if you express
surprise when they tell you that a pumping human heart is powerful
enough to squirt blood up to a distance of 30 feet and the observant
person who edified you responds with I thought everyone knew that,
dont take it personally. Just placate them by reminding them that not
everyone is as detail and fact-oriented as they are. They like knowing that
theres a niche in the universe for their talent even if theyre frustrated
when nobody seems to possess their depth of knowledge. Next time
youre playing Trivia Crack, youre going to want them around.

9. They have better survival skills

Youve probably seen people talking on the phone, texting, applying
makeup, or fiddling with their iPods while driving. Youve probably done it
yourself. According to an article in Psychology today over time, as weve
evolved and begun to rely more on technology and less on our bodily
instincts, weve become less observant. That little voice thats telling
you to pay attention or that something isnt right is really your limbic
system kicking into gear.
Not following this basic human instinct can lead to accidents and injuries.
The AAA Foundation reports that approximately 80% of drivers feel unsafe
on the roads because of distractions, and federal statistics indicate that
distracted driving leads to 5000 deaths annually from car accidents.
Observant people know that distractions interfere with focus and are
therefore more likely to practice situational awareness, remaining alert in
situations that can be potentially dangerous.

10. They love to people-watch

Observant people probably get told off for staring or being nosy when
theyre in public, but people-watching serves two purposes; it keeps their
minds actively engaged with their surroundings, and it offers creative
inspiration. Since observant peoples senses are always tingling, they
often find creativity, like writing or painting, to be a useful outlet.
According to Scott Kaufman, a psychologist at NYU, Marcel Proust spent
almost his whole life people-watching, and he wrote down his
observations, and it eventually came out in his books. One of my creative
writing professors in college used to tell her students to go to Starbucks
with a notebook and eavesdrop on peoples conversations because there
are stories all around us if we know where to find them, and observant
people are great at sniffing out stories.

11. Theyre great judges of character

Observant people are always attentive to social dynamics, and because

they can read body language extremely well, they can determine pretty
easily how people treat one another. They can tell when couples are truly
in love by the tone in which they talk to each other or how closely they sit
to each other. They can deduce how close a pair of friends are by the tone
of the Facebook posts and Twitter conversations between them.
A friend of mine once expressed concern about a mutual friends
significant other by saying, He didnt say a word to anyone the entire
time we were at dinner, and he never looked at you when you spoke to
him. Hes bad news. When they broke up, everyone said the person had
a sixth sense. Not really. She was just paying attention. Try it some time.

12. They have more keenly-developed

comprehension and critical thinking skills
Observant people were probably the ones who breezed through tests in
school, were the fastest readers, and responded the most quickly to
answers in class. This isnt necessarily natural ability, but the result of
developing their observational skills. One of the biggest benefits to being
so observant is that, according to Social-Psychiatry.com, all of that brain
exercise strengthens the neural pathways in the brain, resulting in better
reading comprehension and reading speed.
This increases the ability to absorb and retain information, which is why
observant people tend to have eidetic memories. When I was studying for
my comprehensive exam as a Masters student, I developed a reputation
in my study group for being the quotation queen. Instead of looking up the
page number of a book quotation, someone would read it to me from their
notes, and Id tell them what page it was on. It saved a lot of time.

13. Theyre perfectionists

Sometimes the downside to being so detail-oriented is that letting things
slide can be challenging. Observant people have to cross every t, dot
every i, and proofread their emails five times, manually as well as with
spell-checker. They have to practice their presentations fifteen times
before they feel comfortable, but theyll be the most productive people
you can work with because they believe that theres no point doing a job
unless youre going to do it right. This characteristic makes them great
team leaders, trainers, and teachers because they can micro-manage and
oversee what everyone is doing.

14. They appreciate the importance of

repetition

Observant people can watch their favorite movies and read their favorite
books over and over again and never get bored because theyll always
discover something new. Even if its as simple as noticing what color socks
a character is wearing, that discovery adds a whole new dimension to the
experience. Moreover, while observant people tend to absorb information
more quickly, theyre also aware that something might slip under their
radar undetected. This is why its always a good practice to read novels
multiple times before writing a research paper about them and why
rereading study or presentation notes multiple times is a smart habit to
practice because the more you look at something the more deeply it
becomes etched into your minds eye.

15. They have healthier relationships

This goes back to the importance of reading body language and
relationship dynamics. Observant people can be more attuned to the
rhythms of other peoples lives and bodies as well as their own and can
thus pick up on mood changes and habits. Theyll be more likely to ask
whats bothering their partner if they notice a frowning expression or if a
usually chatty friend has become uncharacteristically quiet or withdrawn.
Theyll know that if youre not a morning person that theres no point
trying to get a word out of you before youve had caffeine, and theyll
remember that the only thing that cheers you up when youre feeling
down is your favorite flavor of Ben and Jerrys. Theres no magic to this.
They just care about you enough to take the time to observe how they can
cultivate the relationship.