—Fred Rogers, The World According to Mister Rogers
We must not let ourselves be diverted from the truth by the strangeness of appearances. A fact is a fact even though it may upset our conception of the universe, for our conception of the universe is terribly infantile.
—Charles Richet, 1913 Nobel Prize Winner for Physiology and Medicine
Years ago, I used to get such a kick out of watching people stare at those Magic Eye posters in the mall. They would just stand there in front of them, trying as hard as they could to see the hidden images among the millions of squiggly lines and dots.
And then... out of nowhere...their face would suddenly light up. They would smile. And I would know that they had finally SEEN it. It was magical.
Who knows why it took some people two minutes and others an hour for the image to "pop" for them. But the reaction was always the same.
Delight. Joy. Awe. Amazement.
The tension that had been building in their bodies for two or sixty minutes would suddenly release. There would be an exhale of triumph.
"There it is! Right there!"
There were always those who wanted to know HOW to see the hidden images. They wanted to know specific techniques. Some would look slightly away from the poster while others would let their eyes get a little blurry.
But, in the end, there was no "how" to make the image show itself. It was seen when it was seen; often as soon as the person gave up trying so hard.
That's kind of how it goes when my clients and I talk about who-we-are beyond our mind's stories.
In the beginning, most of my clients simply want to know HOW to see this.
And, just like the Magic Eye posters, there is no solid, concrete "how." (And the mind HATES that!)
But there are some things that seem to make the journey to rediscovering who-you-are a little simpler and more enjoyable.
First, it really helps to be curious and inquisitive, like a child or an anthropologist. When we look at conditioned thoughts and beliefs, we look at them with a beginner's mind, as if we honestly have NO idea if they're true or real.
Second, it's incredibly beneficial to just play with the ideas of who-you-are beyond old stories and limiting beliefs. My clients and I play "what-if" games every week. We ask things like, "What if that thing you call a trigger is actually your greatest teacher?" and "What if that physical symptom you hate is the very thing that will walk you home to the truth of who-you-are?" By playing games and asking what-if questions, we allow for never-before-seen possibilities to show up. We become vast open spaces for brand new insights to appear.
Finally, it's helpful to be willing to be dead wrong. This may sound crazy and counterproductive. But it's a game-changer. My brilliant mentor, Dr. Amy Johnson, PhD, first introduced this idea to me. She said, "You don't need to believe anything I say. Just be open to the idea that what your mind is telling you is dead wrong."
As my wise friend Carl Frazier said this year on Easter Sunday, "I am not asking you to believe. I am asking you to consider suspending your disbelief for a moment."
As you consider who-you-are beyond your labels and stories, be curious and playful. Be willing to be dead wrong. And consider suspending your disbelief for just a moment.
When you see....really SEE...what's there beyond your intellect's limited version of you, it will be like seeing that hidden image in the Magic Eye poster. Only a million times better.
**Coming in September**
Have you been wanting to find out what all of this is about? Do you have specific questions about any of the blog posts? In September, I will be hosting a zoom call to dive a little more deeply into what is being pointed to here in this blog. I hope you'll join me!
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