Two people can look at the same thing, and perceive it in two different ways. I believe that the difference between people, and their openness to changing their perception, is their willingness to be open to compassion. It is very important that all of us become willing to accept the fact that our first perceptions may not always be true. Because it is not so much what we see, but how we perceive it, that shapes our thoughts, emotions, and actions about it.
If we see something happening that looks bad at first glance, we as good humans almost have a requirement to seek to understand the situation. Look further. Ask questions – get clarity.
I have a story from last weekend to explain. I was leaving to go to the grocery store and stopped to get the mail. The mailbox cluster faces my backyard and my two boys were in the back with their dog.
All of a sudden I heard my older son screaming at their dog Ben and he looked like he was hitting him. Immediately bad thoughts of what was happening came flooding into my brain. I ran back towards the house and started yelling “What are you doing?”
My older son proceeded to tell me that Ben was eating a dead mouse – he was yelling Ben! No! And attempting to go for his mouth to get the mouse and not knowing what to do. He was frozen in fear, but acting at the same time.
Immediately, my perceptions went from thinking that my older son was doing something wrong to understanding the TRUE REALITY of the situation. My husband came out and got the same understanding and went right back into the kitchen to get something to retrieve the dead mouse from Ben’s mouth.
You can see from the size of Ben that the mouse was no match for him. He is also a Lab, German Shepherd, and Border Collie Mix. He was gonna get that mouse come hell or high water. He has selective listening. It didn’t matter how much my son yelled at him, he wasn’t going to listen.
So I ask you to do these three things the next time you see a situation that looks bad at first glance:
1. Have compassion
2. Ask Questions
3. Do what you can to get clarity.
Thank you.
Ladybug Kisses 