How we see things

“We don’t see things as they are. We see them as we are.”~Anais Nin

Our experience and circumstances shape how we perceive things, as French memoirist Anais Nin reminds us in today’s quote.

If I’ve had a bad meal in a restaurant, for instance, I’m unlikely to try it again — even if my dining companions enjoyed everything they ordered.

Whenever I find myself offended, annoyed, or angered, I’m tempted to adopt the stance of self-righteousness. That’s when I absolutely need to stop and consider the reasons behind another person’s actions or opinions. And that’s when a little empathy comes in handy. Have I taken time to understand what that person might be going through at the time? Am I holding him or her to a standard that I always live up to myself? Is there another way to look at this situation? ~CL

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