The door we are going to pass through today on the Journey to Greatness is: Observation and Self-Witnessing.
The next time you look yourself over; think about what you are overlooking.
To see wisdom we have only to go in search of our blindness.
To see the path ahead on the journey to greatness requires that we observe the world and ourselves but not in that order.
“There ain’t no way to find out why a snorer can’t hear himself snore,” said Mark Twain.
No matter what we think we are looking at, what we are watching is our mind. We don’t see the world as it is but as we are. A fool is someone who when they don’t know where they are going redoubles their effort.
What we see in life usually has a lot to do with what we’ve been looking at. Or need to see. Or want to see. Or presume to see. Charlie Chaplin once won third prize in a Charlie Chaplin look-alike contest.
Until we are prepared to take a real look at ourselves, what we see when we’re looking at others is our avoidance. And sometimes the only thing worse than a bad mirror is a good one.
Every season in every department store window they change the clothing on the mannequins but underneath the same dummies remain. Don’t be confused that you’ve changed just because you’ve changed how you look
It isn’t that the acceptance and opinions of others doesn’t matter, but what matters most is self-acceptance. Until we are self-accepting, we cannot be other-accepting. Wherever you are on your journey, observe what is the best in you because the best in you is hoping to get your attention and intention.
Greatness is less often fireworks in our life and more often about quieting our self. Only a quiet pond paints an honest picture. Most of us don’t look at things honestly because we are afraid we won’t like what we see. Sadly that also means that too often we don’t see the best in us. See you soon.
Copyright 2012, Noah benShea.