To
see things from a different perspective and expand our view of the
world is to be open to life and everything in it. When we open our mind,
heart and body to pain, joy, love and life, we shift from a narrow view
based on past experiences, hurts, joys, and sadness to see things from
another perspective. This opening to life helps us grow and also opens
our heart to connect with all of life.
Opening
to awareness, compassion and acceptance allows us to experience all of
life. The pleasant and unpleasant. We can't grow and heal if we remain
closed to certain experiences.
When
we are fearful and tighten up in response to fear we become paralyzed
and only experience a fraction of life. We get stuck in our view of the
world and it's like being trapped in a room where the windows are
painted on. We don't see the world; everyone and everything in it for
all the wonder, beauty, sorrow, pain, joy that it holds. We only see our
narrow view of it. This limits how we experience others as we only see
fragments of the people we come into contact with. We may judge others
and look for those whose world view is like ours in an effort to stay
"comfortable and safe, ". The irony is that in trying to stay "safe" we
end up stuck in a room with our own fears, hurts, defenses, etc. We may
get glimpses of how expansive the world is and how expansive we are
beyond the small fearful self but again we retreat at any sign of fear,
threat, etc.
“Vulnerability is the only authentic state. Being vulnerable means being open, for wounding, but also for pleasure. Being open to the wounds of life means also being open to the bounty and beauty. Don’t mask or deny your vulnerability: it is your greatest asset. .”
― Stephen Russell, Barefoot Doctor's Guide to the Tao: A Spiritual Handbook for the Urban Warrior
Opening your eyes to see from another's perspective can bring healing and growth...
In
opening our minds to see the world through other eyes we get a
different perspective on life. We learn about each others wishes, hopes,
dreams, sadness and pain. This is a moment of profound connection of
opening our hearts and really wanting to be present to life and each
other.
It's
challenging and fear can arise with each step we take. We move out of
our comfort zone into the unknown world of other. In beginning to
expand our world view, opening our mind and heart to each other we begin
to see beyond the small self, beyond ego and here lies the potential
for healing and growth. Seeing the world from a different perspective
can help us grow in areas where we are stuck. It can help us heal past
hurts and begin to free up our energy so that we can be more connected
with our aliveness (ability to feel, act, think and sense). We begin to
see the full richness of the world around us; the colors, fragrance,
emotions, sensations, etc. This stepping out of the old way of seeing
and doing things is uncomfortable and scary. If you really want to feel
alive, if you want to experience new things then you must open to life.
It
really is a choice; to live on guard and at war with self and others or
to be open and vulnerable and yes, risk the possibility of getting
hurt.
Which do you choose?
Until next time...
May you be well...
