An optical illusion is a visual phenomenon that tricks the brain into perceiving something that does not correspond to the physical reality of the observed scene. These illusions exploit the way our eyes and brain collaborate to interpret visual information, often leading us to perceive absent elements or to misinterpret the size, shape, or color of present objects.
There is a significant distinction between merely looking at things and observing them carefully. You might glance at something, but your mind doesn’t engage mentally; in contrast, the act of observation deepens your mindfulness by encouraging you to be present and aware of the details of your daily life.
Observational skills refer to the ability to use your five senses to discern, analyze, and memorize your environment.
Try this test to assess your observational skills.
In this image, you can see a tidy bathroom with various toiletry items. However, there is also a small car hidden somewhere.
The challenge is to spot it, but you have only 10 seconds.
So, did you find it?
This type of exercise strengthens your ability to notice details and remain attentive, thereby improving your observational skills and mindful presence in everyday life.
If you managed to spot the car in 10 seconds, congratulations, it demonstrates your excellent observational skills.
For those who didn’t succeed, it’s an opportunity to improve this skill. You can enhance your observational abilities by eliminating distractions, practicing active listening to immerse yourself in the present moment, and reducing interference.
Here is where the car is:
The car is in the shower area at the bottom left of the image, hidden among the various shampoo bottles.
Mental training is also beneficial: games like cryptograms and logic puzzles, as well as images, stimulate your brain and help you deduce information that may not be immediately obvious.
Other effective techniques for developing your observational skills include describing images, selecting random objects and searching for them wherever you go, and making a list of all the items present in your living room.
By practicing these methods, you strengthen your ability to notice details and interact more intensively with your environment, thus refining your observational skills.
