What If We Could Really See?

Of course, we have machines that can process various portions of the light spectrum, but are they capturing everything? Science theorizes too about ‘dark matter’ that we cannot see but that exists. Are there more things to see than light alone would reveal to us?

For example, sound and smell are senses that enable us to understand more of the world around us as well. They help us to ‘see’ a more complete picture, more than we would understand with sight alone.

From an evolutionary perspective, the chances of the human eye developing and evolving are truly small. From a scientific perspective, we know that animals have senses or abilities we do not, such as echolocation, homing abilities, far superior smell abilities, and the ability to see light that we do not.

While science has come far in many ways, we still struggle to understand the complexities of human emotion and mental processing. Our work with mental illness, for example, is far from complete. We can capture some of our experiences, but we do not yet have a way to delve into the core of how we as humans process and experience life around us.

I have often been fascinated with how little we understand of what is inside of us personally. It seems that we often are the most blind to everything inside ourselves, and we often seek help or affirmation from others. We often turn to life coaches, therapists, friends, and family to help us to see or understand more about ourselves.

Sometimes we become frustrated with other people. Sometimes we wish others would just change. Sometimes we feel that someone is out to get us or is acting wrong or evil. Many people I meet express negative feelings about others or the world around them. From what we can see or understand, we often conclude that ‘they’ are the problem, not us.

What if we could see good in the world? What if good shown like a bright light around those that did good deeds? How would we feel surrounded by good people and the light they had to share?

I often find myself telling my children that they don’t understand all that is taking place and that they need to know more in order to draw a conclusive opinion. They seem so quick to judgment at times, and are so convinced that they understand.

What if I am the same? What if, even though I feel confident in my understanding, I am blind to certain things? Do I really understand enough to pass judgment on a person or situation?

I have been quite fascinated by the difference in the way I feel about the world based on the assumptions I make inside. When I assume that the world is bad and that people are bad and selfish, I become uptight, anxious, and stressed. I don’t enjoy life as much.

When I assume though that people are inherently good and are doing their best, I feel peace, I care more about people, and it is easier for me not to take any of their weak moments personally. We are all on a journey, and we are all working to see and understand what is really taking place here.

While I certainly do not have the ability to prove which view or opinion (inherently good or bad) is closest to the actual truth, I do know that for me, my belief about the world drastically impacts how I see and experience life. It very much seems, based on my experience with what is inside of me, that I see and experience what I believe inside.