"Whether we're a one-year-old baby or a 56-year-old adult, we all hold the powers of observation, perception, and intuition. Whether we realize it or not, we instinctively react to each other's energy all day long. Our inner child knows when we feel safe, protected, and supported. Just like we know when we're at risk, uncomfortable, and potentially close to harm."
"Our insanely intelligent bodies hold this feedback. When we see someone we admire, trust, and enjoy, our hearts beat faster, and we feel uplifted by the opportunity to connect. But when we're near someone who holds power over us, our bodies instinctively pause. It creates the space to assess if it's safe to be open and vulnerable, or if we need to brace for impact or shield ourselves from potential pain or an unpleasant surprise."
The still-face scenario shows infants immediately react to caregivers' sudden lack of engagement, reaching out and becoming distressed within seconds. Humans retain perceptual and intuitive capacities across the lifespan and continuously pick up emotional energy from others. Bodily signals register safety and threat, producing uplift and openness when encounters feel supportive, or pause and guardedness when encounters feel risky. Moment-by-moment interactions—micro-moments—shape emotional arousal and social outcomes. In evaluative settings, abrupt signals of confusion or disengagement from powerful figures can derail performance, provoke anxiety, and interrupt intended communication, influencing opportunities for trust, support, and collaboration.
Read at Fast Company
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