“We don’t see the world as it is, we see it as we are.” Author Unknown
I don’t know if there is anything more important than the way we think about a thing, the way we think about anything. Right or wrong, our perception is our reality. If we think something is giant and unsolvable, it can be overwhelming. If we think the same issue is something we can work through, we can do it. If we can change our perspective about something, anything, we can change how we view it, think about it or work through it.
It can be easier to agree with this premise than to practice it. It’s especially hard to change our viewpoint when we are in the situation, our judgment can become clouded. Our pride might get involved, we are convinced we are right and we can miss something we might otherwise see.
How can we possibly get a clearer perspective on anything? I think it starts with humility. Unfortunately. To be open to another perspective, we first have to be open to the possibility that we might be wrong about the way we are thinking about it right now. It starts there. Our estimation of a situation could be wrong. Our emotions may cloud our judgment or our broken, narrow, thought processes may lead us astray. If we want as much clarity as possible, we have to be open to the possibility that our initial, or previously held, assumptions and beliefs, might be wrong. That can be difficult.
“But that’s the way I feel. I can’t help the way I feel.” Beware when those words come out of our mouth. We are in the Danger Zone! (Cue the Danger Zone music.) We should be wary people who consistently speaks in absolutes and do not allow for the possibility that they might be wrong. Especially when that person is looking back at us in the mirror. They are the most dangerous.
The quote, “We don’t see the world as it is, we see the world as we are,” is attributed to a couple modern authors but Google tells me the idea appears in 1st century Hebrew texts and is probably older. It recognizes that we are generally unlikely to analyze a situation without filtering it through our own broken experience. The Apostle Paul wrote the Epistle of Titus around 60 AD and said, “To the pure, all things are pure, but to the defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure; but both their minds and their consciences are defiled.” Titus 1:15. Notice, “…both their minds and consciences are defiled.” No matter our experiences, we see the world as we are, not as it is.
I am not advocating for a mush-mind, tumbleweed mentality of being blown to and fro by the winds of indecision. I am all for decisive action. Also, there are some critical life decisions and principles that, once we commit to them we are fully committed, and we should be. I am, however, encouraging that we consistently step back and assess things with as much of an open mind as we can muster. Detach, analyze, re-engage. Maybe we are absolutely on the correct track. Great. Charge forward. Then, later, detach, analyze, re-engage.
We might consider this approach for all things, all situations. How we approach adulting, parenting, our jobs, relationships, marriage, a golf swing, problem solving, everything. We will never be able to get better at anything without first accepting the possibility there might be a better way to do it.
Encouragement4Men 