When you look at the image, what do you see, apart from two very handsome men that is? The words I mean. Read it to yourself. Say it out aloud. Did you get it right? Are you sure? Look again. Read it again. Say it out aloud again. Got it?
If you got it, you would have realised that ‘and’ is written twice. Maybe you’re like me and didn’t see it until it was pointed out. It is such an obvious thing isn’t it? Why did you miss it? Why did I continually miss it? This is a very important question that I want to discuss this week.
My friend Ossie and I caught up after almost two years of no contact. We went for a walk on a stunning day, sat by the Yarra River, enjoyed the wonderful views, and caught up on the previous two years in each other’s lives. It would be fair to say we have both been through some challenges in that time. What I loved about our conversation, and what I love about Ossie, is that we were both able to see more in the situations we had experienced than the challenge. Initially it seemed overwhelming and undesirable, but when we looked again, from another perspective, it looked very different. That is the reason why it is so important to look again, so you don’t miss the truth and the opportunity.
My greatest desire this week, after you finish reading the blog is to look again at many situations that you believe are adverse. In fact, I would encourage you to read this blog again, as you never know what you may pick up the second time. So many times, I have looked at a situation in my life that seemed bad and reacted immediately, based on the first look. In most cases, it was the wrong way to look at the circumstance, and led to an undesirable outcome. Reacting to an initial emotion will often lead to regret. All you have to do, before responding, is look again and you will see the truth.
Why do we often miss the truth when we first look at something? Great question and I am not sure if I have the answer. Maybe because we live in a fast-paced world, and we don’t allow ourselves the time to look and reflect on what is really going on. Maybe it’s because we are looking at things from our own selfish viewpoint and how it immediately affects us. Maybe it’s because we are looking through a victim-mindset perspective and not how the situation can actually be a positive thing in our lives. Whatever the reason, I want to urge you, whenever you feel frustrated, angry, anxious, fearful, resentful, or offended, to take the time to look again more carefully. If you do, the truth will appear to you.
That health challenge you are looking at can be a cause for fear and anxiety, unless you look again. If you do, you will see areas to improve and the opportunity to become optimally healthy and inspire others. When looking at conflict, it can very easily lead to anger, frustration and resentment, unless you look again. If you do, with a desire to see the other person’s viewpoint, you will find empathy and compassion. When you look at a situation that is out of your control, you can feel helpless and fearful, unless you look again. If you look at what you can do and what you are in control of, you will see amazing possibilities that will lead to feelings of empowerment and excitement. Can you see why it is so important, in certain scenarios, to look again?
It was actually in my podcast with Pericles Rellas, called Financial thermostat, that I heard the Bird in the the hand’ metaphor, andhis own story of looking again. In my other podcast this week called, A values driven life, I talk with Carly Pepin about looking again at things through the lens of what is most important to you. Both podcasts have powerful conversations, and I encourage you to listen to them.
The life we live is very dependent on what we see, how we respond, and what we do as a result. As humans, we are very impacted by how we feel and driven to act as a consequence. Once you act, it can’t be undone or taken back. The words you speak, and the actions you take will always have an impact on your life and the life of others. So, it is my strongest recommendation that before you speak or act, you take the time to look again with a desire to see the truth.