Colored by Belief

“I expect to pass through this life but once. If therefore, there be any kindness I can show, or any good I can do to any fellow human being, let me do it now, as I shall not pass this way again.”

-- William Penn, philosopher, entrepreneur, founder of Province of Pennsylvania

Beliefs are like a pair of sunglasses in that they color the way you view a situation or event.  When you look at something through a certain belief, a situation can appear very differently than if you didn’t hold that belief.

Of course beliefs can create an unhealthy bias, altering what is really true about a situation.  But rather than focus on the potential pitfalls of seeing through your beliefs, think about the opportunity it provides.

What if you saw every situation in your day through the belief that you have the ability to positively affect that situation?  Perhaps through the attentiveness with which you listen, the wisdom you offer, or simply the attitude you convey. Try wearing those glasses today – bring them with you into your kitchen where your family congregates, into the conference room where you have a couple of meetings, to every situation your day brings you.  This may not be easy, but it will make a difference.