Taking on a new activity or skill, we are alert, attentive, and absorbing information. However, as we become comfortable with the process or task, we tend to pay less attention since we assume we already know what will happen or feel pleased with our ability to execute.
We extend this to people as well. Think of anyone you have recently met. You engage attentively, learning about them, being curious, and assessing all along as we file information against our established and somewhat inherent bias. As we become familiar, we become comfortable, or if not calm, we have, at minimum, set our boundaries.
Yet, in all instances of complacency, we are less likely to receive and reflect on changes, some subtle but significant. What are we missing and ignoring? The lens we apply to new relationships differs from those well-established, and the lack of curiosity with the latter limits our ability to alter our perspective.
Familiar is comfortable, and comfort may dull our senses.
