Many people wonder if their friends or family members are psychic because they always seem to clue into subtle details before anyone else does. Maybe grandma can tell when a woman is pregnant before she does, or a friend will caution against dating someone because their “vibe” is off, only to find out later that they have a really dodgy past.
The reality is, examples like these are often due to a person being highly observant, rather than spiritually gifted: they simply have the ability to pick up on subtle cues that others are oblivious to. Clues such as these:
1. How a person says someone’s name.
There’s a common joke that you could tell as a child that your parents were mad at you when they used your full name. Similarly, the tone with which a person says someone’s name — yours or that of another individual — can speak volumes about their feelings towards said individual.
For example, you can often tell if a partner’s passions towards you have cooled if they sound angry or flat when they say your name. Similarly, you might clue into the fact that your friend is angry or disappointed in their spouse if their voice wavers when they mention them.
Of course, it’s important to note that tone of voice and body language can be misinterpreted (and often are). It’s all about the context and change in body language that’s more important than the body language itself. A highly observant person realizes this and looks at what’s going on alongside the tone, not just the tone itself.
2. Changes in a person’s scent.
You can often tell if there’s something intense going on in someone’s life when their scent changes. Either they’re being lax with personal hygiene, or something just smells “off” with them. Sometimes it’s a sour or fishy note (implying liver or kidney issues), or in the case of Parkinson’s disease, a musky odor.
Many animals have this ability as well, which is why service animal companions will often alert their people to an imminent seizure, low blood sugar, etc.
A friend of ours had a dog who kept growling at said friend’s abdomen whenever he sat on the couch with him, and even got to the point of prodding at him with a paw if and when he got too close. That friend eventually got himself checked out and discovered that he had kidney cancer. It was caught early thanks to his canine friend, who received many treats thereafter.
3. Speech patterns, including impediments.
A sudden change or difference in a person’s speech patterns can often indicate that something is going on in their life. For example, if someone starts stammering regularly or apologizing more than usual, that may indicate that they’re under a lot of stress or that they’re being mistreated. Similarly, someone who suddenly starts pronouncing words differently may be spending time with an individual whose speech they’re mimicking on a subconscious level.
Most people won’t clue into these subtle changes, or if they do, they’ll just make fun of them because they don’t dig into the underlying causes. But paying attention to these subtle cues might mean the difference between awareness of a serious, impending health issue, or that there are relationship issues to be paid attention to.
4. The beginnings of an episode of some sort.
People who suffer from various health episodes, such as panic or anxiety attacks, migraines, heart issues, etc., often have their individual “tells”. For example, I always knew that an ex of mine was developing a migraine when her left eyelid started to flicker, even though she couldn’t feel it when it happened.
Those who get emotionally volatile at times also exhibit “warning” signs when they’re close to going ballistic. One person might get very quiet just before exploding into anger, while another may rock slightly back and forth just before breaking down and sobbing hysterically. These subtle signs are like tremors before a volcanic eruption: people who pay attention to them will fare much better than those who choose to ignore them.
5. Energy fluctuations.
Highly observant individuals often pick up on other people’s energy fluctuations the same way they clue into changes in scent and physical behavior. As an example, if they’re at a social function, they may be able to tell if and when someone is feeling antsy and wants to leave based on the energy they feel from them.
Maybe this person is engaging in self-soothing behavior to calm anxiety, or they’ve glazed and disassociated due to a sudden energy drop. Alternatively, these people may be able to tell that their child is about to wake from a nap with a ton of energy to burn because they can feel a ringing “hum” from the other room. Those who have this intense awareness of their surroundings can often use it to their advantage by picking up on subtle shifts and bracing themselves accordingly.
6. Other people’s subconscious reactions towards an individual.
Rather than intentional body language, this is the subconscious reaction that someone has towards another person. It’s like the literal knee-jerk reaction that happens if someone’s leg is tapped to test their reflexes: they don’t do it consciously, and are simply reacting to the stimuli around them.
For example, a highly observant person might notice when someone seems to draw closer to another individual, even if they aren’t looking at them or paying attention to them. Or, in contrast, that the individual’s body seems to want to get away from this person and give them a wide berth. They may notice that even if this person walks behind someone else (who’s in conversation with another), that person will edge away as though trying to avoid their energy.
7. How animals respond.
One thing you learn when you spend a lot of time outdoors is that when all the animals around you go silent and disappear, there’s something seriously wrong going on. In fact, I was in a situation once where birds suddenly went silent, alerting me to the fact that there was a mountain lion nearby, and I was in real danger of becoming a late lunch.
Highly observant people will pay attention to animal behavior around them and how those creatures react to different individuals. For example, if animals flock to a person without any enticement, that’s usually a sign that that the person in question is a decent one, with great energy and a kind heart. In contrast, if animals patently avoid them or get aggressive towards them — such as cats hissing or dogs growling — there may be something inherently wrong going on with them.
8. Whether (and how) others are eating and drinking around them.
A person’s eating habits can offer a great deal of insight as to how they’re doing. For example, someone who’s eating and drinking with gusto, smiling at those around them, is likely enjoying themselves and the company they’re in. This is in stark contrast to someone who’s holding themselves very formally and only picking at their food and drink.
Watch to see if they’re going through the motions, such as taking only tiny sips of wine, or moving the food around on their plate rather than eating it. Behaviors like these may indicate illness or extreme discomfort, whether physical or emotional.
In addition, how a person eats or drinks may offer subtle clues about what’s going on with them or around them. For example, a person who eats like a convict — with their arm protectively around their plate, shoveling food into their mouth — may have dealt with scarcity or mistreatment in the past. Similarly, a person who holds a sip or bite in their mouth before swallowing it may have allergies and is waiting to see if they have reactions before consuming things fully.
Final thoughts…
There’s a difference between being highly observant and hypervigilant, though there is some overlap between them. A highly observant person naturally clues into subtle details around them, while a hypervigilant person generally has to put effort into being aware of everything that could potentially harm them, at all times.
As a result, a hypervigilant individual may think that they’re tapping into subtle clues, when in fact they’re seeing threats that aren’t there. In contrast, a highly observant person may recognize potential harms more clearly and take action without it being a trauma response.
