The eyes are a pretty incredible part of our bodies. We can express so much through our eyes without ever saying a word. Staring into someone’s eyes can be a very intimate experience that helps you feel closer to them. This is true of romantic partners, but it is not exclusive to romantic partners. If you want to get closer to someone in your life, read on. If you feel distant from your partner, couples therapy and marriage counseling in Houston, can help you feel that sense of closeness that you crave!
Eye gazing can help houston couples feel closer to each other
What happens when you gaze into someone’s eyes?
Gives you clues into another person’s emotions
You can learn a lot about what someone is feeling from their eyes. But you have to take the time to stop and notice what their eyes are telling you.
Creates a sense of trust
When people avert their eyes instead of looking directly at you, it is often considered a sign of lying. Looking away is one of those body cues that people associate with dishonesty. On the other hand, people associate looking directly into someone’s eyes as a sign that you are trustworthy.
Increases intimacy
Chemicals that are released when you do eye-gazing
The science behind this is pretty fascinating. Staring into someone’s eyes can release the chemical oxytocin which leads to feelings of attachment and attraction. It can also release dopamine, or the cuddle hormone, which leaves you feeling good. It’s not hard to see why staring into each other’s eyes increases your feeling of closeness. If you are looking for ways to feel closer to your partner, going on fun dates and getting away can also help.
Steps to Eye gaze
Sit facing each other (you can hold hands to increase intimacy).
Set a timer for how long you would like to gaze. I recommend starting with one minute and increasing this with time until you can get to the point of gazing for 5-10 minutes.
Do not talk while gazing into the eyes of each other (smiling or giggling may occur naturally and is okay).
Stop gazing at each other when the timer goes off.
Take a minute to notice how you feel after this exercise and express appreciation to your partner for taking the time to eye gaze with you.
Here is a video of me discussing and demonstrating eye gazing.
If gazing feels awkward at first, don’t worry about it. That is pretty normal. You may even want to chuckle or look away. Resist the urge to look away, or if you do look away momentarily, just bring your gaze back to your partner as soon as you notice it. Just because it feels odd when you start doing this exercise, does not mean it is not working.
Our bodies are wired a certain way, and part of that wiring is that we feel closer and have better feeling towards people who we maintain eye contact with.
This is one of the quickest, easiest techniques you can use to feel closer to someone. I recommend starting out by doing it on a daily basis for a week and seeing what changes you notice. After that, you may want to schedule it on your calendar so that it becomes a habitual practice of closeness.
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