Make Eye Contact

Continued from our Retreat & Renew Daily Tip.

Allow 10 minutes for this exercise.

First, find a comfortable place to sit across from your partner. It could be on the floor, or in facing chairs. Somewhere that you’ll be able to look straight into each other’s eyes.

Sit knee to knee, or hold hands, if you want to. Whatever makes you both feel comfortable and connected.

Close your eyes for a moment. Then simultaneously open them, looking only into the other person’s eyes. What do you see? What do you feel? How does it feel to look? To be seen?

Watch where your mind goes… Are you finding fault or judging? Are you obsessing about your own unruly eyebrows, or are you focused on seeing your partner? If you catch yourself in these patterns, try seeking the beauty in the other. Try to radiate lovingkindness toward him or her. Try to fill them up with your love, using only your eyes.

As the time passes, note if you become more or less comfortable. Notice how difficult it is to stay focused on one thing for even ten minutes.

Once the time has elapsed, check in with each other about your experience. How did it feel to really look at someone? To really make eye contact? What if you gave that kind of loving attention to everyone you met?