31 Days of Gratitude: Let's Take a Look

You are probably quite a looker.

And of course you're gorgeous, too. But what I'm really talking about here is the process of Looking... for example: on blogs, pinterest, through your camera lens, and in your everyday life.

Previously we chatted about the difference between looking and seeing. Each is highly valuable when applied well. Today we focus on "Looking," because there's soooo much more to it than first meets the eye...

Looking is a multi-step process. It's not as simple as just having sensory information coming into your eyes. When you look at something, you process both the object and your reaction to it ~ all in a split second. 


And this can really confound things quite quickly.

In fact, what you see 
may not really be the object you're looking at 
                              ~at all... 

Sometimes we have so many layers of 
assumptions,
                    unexamined reactions, 
                                      "training," history or lectures 
about an object, event or person 
that what you're really looking at... 

is simply all those layers of hoo-ha in your own mind. 

Whoa.

Now that is important. Very important.

Because it determines so much about your life. 

Let's put it this way: Have you ever had the experience of interacting with someone who didn't "see" you clearly? Their assumptions and reactions or past history got in the way and they weren't truly interacting with You. And you found this to be frustrating and lonely and devaluing. 
Right?

So...let's practice with Looking. 

Today we will focus on this particular key:

when you look at something or someone, 
allow your focus to go soft and try to notice your internal response to whatever / whomever you are looking at.

That is all.

In other words, use this opportunity for 24 hours to look at your own stuff.  Your thoughts, feelings, reactions, judgments. They may be immediately apparent, or more subtle, or even numbed in some instances.

Practice with things large and small, ordinary and unusual, throughout your 24 hours. 

If you start judging yourself ~ positively or negatively~ for any of your own stuff, just notice that, too. 
That's just another layer. 

...

I am grateful for the gift of sight.

I am thankful for the insight that I am always interacting with everything I observe, whether I am aware of that or not.

I am willing to become more conscious of how I look at people, events, and the world around me.

How deeply might your life be enriched  

after practicing 31 Days of Gratitude?  

Join me and find out.

I'd love to hear your experience with this "experiment" and any aha moments you have.
What helps you to look at things {and your reaction to things} clearly?