People Awareness Practice

Most of us will find ourselves in a group of people nearly every day. It can be a small group of one or more, or a larger group of ten or more people. Whether it is a meeting at work, hanging out with your family or friends, waiting in a checkout line, or sitting in a doctor’s waiting room, we all have an opportunity to observe those around us and become aware of each one.

Observe the feeling you get from each person as you look at their face and their body language. Do they make you feel happy, sad, frightened, or comforted? Do they look excited, tired, cheerful, or impatient? Can you tell whether they are preoccupied and not paying attention to what is at hand, or do they turn and look around, as you are, showing signs of awareness?

Practicing people awareness puts you in the present moment. This awareness can provide a greater understanding of your behaviors, as well as the behavior of others, in any given moment. Over time, this practice will heighten your awareness to the point where you can rely on it to guide you through different situations.