Eye contact in conversation can help intensify the moment and deepen your connection with those around you.

Eye contact can help intensify the moment anddeepen your connectionwith those around you.

It can also be a defense mechanism to ease anxiety or fear.

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And of course, some people just find eye contact in conversation to be awkward!

Ask for clarification, if it concerns you, and set the space to encourage greater use.

As relational human beings, we are interacting almost constantly with those around us through nonverbal communication.

Two people’s legs touch under a table as they work on their laptops.

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Another benefit of eye contact is that it can communicate presence and signify that youre paying attention.

Is the other person bored?

Have I said something wrong?, cautions Lucas.

Books on grief are seen floating against a backdrop of clouds.

Theres a lot more to be said about it than meets the eye!

Creating too much deep focus may come across as intimidating or challenging, says Lucas.

Allow yourself some flexibility, too.

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Being too hard on yourself and forcing the focus may create more stress in the situation.

As with other skills, maintaining eye contact in conversation gets easier with time and practice.

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Michelle Monaghan, Carrie Coon, and Leslie Bibb in The White Lotus, symbolizing toxic friendships.

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Courtesy Berkley Publishing