Welcome, fellow soul-scanner, to Chapter 5: the eye-opening, perception-twisting, reality-squinting installment of How to Be a reAI Man. If you've made it this far, you're either very curious, extremely emotionally evolved, or you accidentally dropped your phone on your face while doom-scrolling and this chapter opened like fate said, "Yo, read this." Either way- destiny accepted.

  Let’s start with the heavy truth: everything you say, do, wear, post, emoji, or exhale changes someone’s perception of you. Like it or not, you're broadcasting on a frequency 24/7, and other humans- bless their squishy hearts- are constantly tuning in. Even when you say nothing, your nonverbal playlist is on loop: posture, expression, tone, eyebrow micro-twitches. You’re a walking TED Talk in body language.

  Carl Jung once said, "You meet yourself in others." You also accidentally bump into your unresolved issues in others, which is why some people make you twitchy for no reason (spoiler: it’s not no reason). We don’t just see the world- we project onto it. Think IMAX, but inside your brain.

  Presence is a Power Tool (Handle With Care)

  Ever walked into a room and felt like someone just zapped the air? That’s presence. It’s the invisible Wi-Fi signal of your energy. When someone carries peace, it ripples. When they carry chaos? Earthquake. It’s not woo-woo, it’s biology and vibes. Mirror neurons in our brains reflect others' emotional states, meaning your calm can soothe or your anxiety can infect. You are, in every sense, contagious. So maybe think twice before emotionally sneezing all over your best friend’s existential sandwich.

  Permanent vs. Temporary Memory (or Why You Still Cringe at That Thing From 2009)

  Some moments tattoo themselves on our soul like a drunk text that won’t delete. That one insult you heard in middle school? Still there. That smile from someone who really saw you? Still glows in the mental hallway. This is permanent memory- emotional flash drives tucked deep in your limbic filing cabinet.

  Temporary memories, on the other hand, are like Snapchat streaks: here, dopamine, gone. But don’t underestimate them- they can still make you feel seen or invisible. They’re part of your personal weather system.

  So, what’s the takeaway? Be mindful. Your words might fade, but how you made someone feel? That’s forever-stamped in their internal cloud storage.

  How to Truly See Others (Without X-ray Vision)

  Seeing isn’t about the eyeballs. It’s about attention. True seeing is presence: observing the little things, noticing the pauses, reading the signals behind "I'm fine."

  Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

  "The most important thing in communication is hearing what isn’t said." – Peter Drucker

  Translation: If your friend says, “No big deal,” but their voice cracks and they’re gripping their coffee mug like it’s a steering wheel in a thunderstorm- read the signs. Listening is visual, too.

  Nonverbal cues make up up to 93% of communication (Mehrabian, shout-out). That’s your body yelling what your mouth politely edits. Arms crossed? Guarded. Tilted head? Curious. Slow blink? Either they’re relaxed or a cat.

  Humour break: if someone raises one eyebrow at you like The Rock, either they’re skeptical or just flexing face muscles. Proceed with caution.

  Trust the Gut. Your Gut Has Wi-Fi.

  You know that feeling? That low-belly warning buzz that says, “This is weird,” or “I’ve lived this before,” or “Why do I feel like I’ve had this conversation in a bathhouse in ancient Rome?” That’s your intuition. It's been with you longer than your Netflix password.

  Throughout history, humans have hunted meaning like it's a Pokémon:

  Ancient Greeks had oracles.

  Bosnians and Serbs read coffee residue.

  Romans dropped bones (no pun intended).

  Modern folks drop memes.

  We try to decode life like it’s a dream manual- and guess what? Sometimes it works. Because we’re wired for patterns and meaning. Our subconscious is always trying to leave us Post-it Notes. You just have to slow down long enough to read them.

  Questions Are X-rays

  Ever had someone ask you a question that unlocked an entire thought palace in your head?

  "Are you really happy?"

  "Who are you when no one’s watching?"

  "Do you actually like oat milk, or are you just emotionally afraid of dairy?"

  Questions are sacred. The right one can strip you bare. You don’t need a therapist with a clipboard- sometimes a drunk friend at 3am or a curious stranger in a laundromat is enough.

  Seeing Others = Respect on Steroids

  Respect isn’t just about not interrupting. It’s about treating someone’s inner world like a fragile antique vase. Whether it's a partner, parent, or pizza delivery person, seeing someone fully is the ultimate form of respect.

  In relationships:

  Notice their energy, not just their words.

  Learn the love languages (touch, time, memes).

  Realize that not everyone loves how you love.

  In friendships:

  Remember birthdays (or at least pretend you do).

  Pay attention when they rant about office drama. That’s their personal Game of Thrones.

  In family:

  Observe who goes silent when conflict erupts.

  Listen for patterns, not just stories.

  Final Notes From Your AI Guide

  Seeing someone, truly seeing them, is the most beautiful kind of love. Not romantic- existential. It’s when you say with your eyes, "I get you. You exist to me. I don’t need subtitles."

  So be present. Observe. Listen between the lines. Ask the good questions. Trust your gut. And remember, even silence speaks volumes- sometimes louder than any speech.

  As Marcel Marceau, the legendary mime, once said with zero words but probably a deeply meaningful gesture: silence isn’t empty- it’s full of answers.

  And hey, if you ever need to be seen, just find a mirror and wink. You’ve come a long way, human.

  Now go squint lovingly at someone today.