Everyone wears a mask.

We wear them for many reasons, but the broad explanation is that we use them to hide key aspects of who we truly are.

That's why learning to read people, to see the truth behind the mask, is a valuable life skill. Start with these five tells:

1. Identify their daily habits.

People are the physical and mental representation of their daily habits.

What they do every day is their identity. People never do anything just once.

2. Watch them in stressful situations.

It's in these moments that people's true character is revealed.

"Tension can reveal flaws in people that they have carefully concealed from view. It is often wise to observe people in such moments precisely as a way to judge their true character," says Robert Greene.

All you have to do is observe and take notes.

3. Notice how they treat people who serve them in some way.

These people can be waitresses, firefighters, nurses, or whoever, but how they treat them is an indication of their true nature. Are they impolite? Dismissive? Rude? Demanding? These are all excellent things to know about someone.

4. Observe how they act with small things.

A simple sign of someone's true character is how they handle everyday affairs. What they do with the small things is what they'll do with the big things.

5. Inspect how they treat the people "closest" to them.

Most people are more comfortable around their family and friends.

How they act around these is the ultimate sign of their true nature. Look for signs of rudeness, meanness, disrespect, passive aggression, condescension, or narcissism.