Eyeless

“When we express ourselves, our bodies release a higher level of reward hormones, and we feel great. The more we talk, the better we feel.”

“Our bodies start to crave that high, and we become blind to the conversational dynamics. While we’re being rewarded, the people we’re talking to might feel cut off, invisible, unimportant, minimized, or rejected…”  psychologytoday blind-spots

“The above exemplifies the eyeless example. The writer continues:

“Stop assuming that others see what you see, feel what you feel, and think what you think (that is rarely the case). Your blind spots cause you to fail to recognize that emotions, such as fear and distrust, change how you and others interpret and talk about reality.”

Pretty clear?

The author offers a remedy:

Don’t underestimate your propensity to have conversational blind spots. Start paying attention to and minimizing the time you “own” the conversational space. Share that space by asking open-ended discovery questions to which you don’t know the answers, so you stay curious. Then listen non-judgmentally to the answer and ask follow-up questions.  psychologytoday blind-spots

Dr. Carl Stevens, founder of Greater Grace Church and Maryland Bible College speaks on “blind Spots.”

“My ignorance or blind spot is caused by not having proper information; it isn’t something caused by reaction or rebellion.”

 “It (blind spots), may be due to wrong decisions … ignorance, or bad experiences.” (2 Peter 1:9, 1 John 2:4,9,11).

“…the old sin nature refuses to be crucified, areas of the soul are darkened to conviction by the Holy Spirit, and undefined impulses start to influence the personality.”

So, the author from Psychology Today makes an astute observation, however he recommends a correction which reveals that he may have an eyeless area too–

“he assumes that people are willing to change.”

His well observed solution is a charge to:

1. Don’t underestimate.
2. Start paying attention
3. Share that space by asking open-ended discovery questions.
4. listen non-judgmentally to the answer.
5. answer and ask follow-up questions.

In every case the writer speaks truth but presumes something about abstract ideas.

Some presumptions:

1. I intuitively know correct estimation.
2. I can pay attention to things not-of-interest to me.
3. I am willing to relinquish my “reward hormones” to share space with another.
4. I won’t pre-judge-I have the capability to put aside emotions and intuition to do this.
5. I can be un-biased.

Granted, these solutions may work in a classroom forum, but to accomplish these situationally must take God and His program, which reveal blind spots.

Lets restate the problem from Dr. Stevens:

Blind spots may be due to wrong decisions … ignorance, or bad experiences” — may be due to rebellion (from another Dr. Stevens quote). They refuse to be crucified — turn into undefined impulses — they take on their own life.

So, how does God deal with blind spots?

God must capitalize upon a person’s mind when severely tried and tested, and then confront them in their highly-suggestible state.

God’s Word through the Holy Spirit does the work, however, blind spots are willful areas where defenses have bulwarked the mind. A softening of resistance often precedes the light shining in darkness — so the importance of trials.  Trials can level the playing field.

So,

When Paul said,  Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong,” 2 Corinthians 12:9

He recognized, through “difficulties training,” the mind has great value when opened to God’s working.  He developed “meekness” in trials.

Meekness means, I am agreeing with, not fighting against the difficulties and occurrences coming at me. They represent God’s plan working in me. They will help me long term. I learn to accept them.

Lastly, God uses trials coupled with meekness to take blinders away; because they hinder beholding Him. When He does I am empowered by the changes, less inhibited, more intimate with Him, and in another degree, liberated from my self. Hallelujah   love ya