Psychologist John Gottman reports that kissing your partner for 6 seconds is an effective way to decrease chronic stress living in your body. 6 seconds is too long to kiss someone you resent or dislike, and it’s too long to kiss someone with whom you feel unsafe. Kissing for 6 seconds requires that you stop and deliberately notice that you like and trust this person. By noticing these things, the kiss tells your body that is safe.