I used to be terrible at reading people. I'd miss obvious signs that someone was lying, uncomfortable, or into me. Then I learned these psychology tricks that changed everything.

Now I can spot what people are really thinking without them having any clue.

The secret: Watch their baseline, then notice the changes

Most people look for big obvious tells. But the real insights come from seeing how someone normally acts, then catching the tiny shifts.

Here's what to actually watch for:

1. Their feet tell the truth, People control their face and hands, but forget about their feet. Feet pointing toward the exit? They want to leave. Feet pointing toward you during conversation? They're engaged. Feet fidgeting or tapping? Anxiety or boredom.

2. The lip purse, When someone presses their lips together briefly, they're holding back what they really want to say. It happens right before they give you the "polite" answer instead of their real opinion.

3. Eye blocking behaviors, Rubbing eyes, covering face, or sudden need to "fix" their hair near their eyes? Their brain is trying to block out something they don't want to see or process. Usually means disagreement or discomfort.

4. The fake smile test. Real smiles create wrinkles around the eyes (crow's feet). Fake smiles don't. Also, real smiles are asymmetrical one side slightly higher. Perfect symmetrical smiles are usually forced.

5. Voice pitch changes. When people lie or get stressed, their voice goes slightly higher. It's subtle, but once you notice it, you can't unhear it. Also works for excitement genuine enthusiasm makes the voice naturally rise.

6. The shoulder shrug leak. Micro-shrugs happen when someone doesn't believe what they're saying. Just one shoulder goes up slightly, usually their non-dominant side. It's their body saying "I don't really know" while their mouth says "I'm certain."

7. Pacifying behaviors under stress. Touching neck, face, or hair. Adjusting clothes. Playing with jewelry. These are self-soothing behaviors that spike when someone's uncomfortable or lying.

The psychology behind this:

Your unconscious brain processes about 11 million bits of information per second. Your conscious brain only handles about 40. The other 10,999,960 bits leak out through body language.

People can control what they say, but their bodies betray their real thoughts.

How to practice without being creepy:

Start with people on TV or in public places where you can observe without staring. Notice their baseline behavior, then watch for changes when topics shift or stress increases.

The most important rule: Never use this to manipulate people. Use it to better understand them, communicate more effectively, and know when someone needs support.

What I've learned:

Most people aren't lying to deceive you they're lying to protect themselves or avoid conflict. Once you realize this, you become more empathetic instead of just more suspicious.

Reading people isn't about catching them in lies. It's about understanding what they're really feeling so you can respond more emphatically and help de-escalate situations.

What body language signs have you noticed? Usually looking away when you ask a person indicates they are lying.