Imagine you and a friend are standing side-by-side looking at a beautiful vista.  You have on rose colored glasses and your friend is sporting glasses with blue-tinted lenses. Your vista looks bright and rosy,  But your friend’s vista appears awash in blue.

Now image that these glasses were permanently affixed to your face.  You would always be seeing the world through rose colored lenses and would swear that the world was rose-colored. Your friend would always see the through the blue tinted glasses and would swear that “No, the world is bluish!”   And actually neither one of you is correct.

In a sense this is what we do every day.  Not the color of the world, but how we “color” reality.  We don’t really see the world as it is…we see our unique version of reality.  And everyone has a different, unique version of reality.

Remember the scene in Snow White (the original Disney movie) where she is banished into the forest and evening turns into night.  She’s so fearful, and alone.  Her entire world has suddenly turned against her.  All the branches start looking like witches arms reaching out to grab her.  All the trees have menacing eyes, like demons.  It’s not really true, but that’s how she sees it because she’s so frightened.  Then the morning comes and she begins to see things a little more clearly.  She notices that the eyes she thought were demons actually belonged to owls and squirrels and raccoons who all become her friends.  Then the birds land on her arms and all is cheery and light.  Same forest, different outlook.

Well a similar thing happens to us when we’re fearful or believe that life is against us, or we’re somehow at a disadvantage.  Our world looks a lot like our beliefs. Things look scarier, or more alienating. And living a joyous, fulfilling, successful life seems out of our reach.  Our experience is one of “Life is tough”.  Also…When we’re angry, we see the world…and everyone in it…as either annoying, or as an obstacle to getting what we want.

On the other hand, when we’re full of joy and hope, our world looks open to us and we find the joy and love that’s actually there. We find people are cooperative and generous.

I’ve found that the best way to lift the filter of fear or anger from our eyes…and begin to see the world as it really is…is to practice Proactive Gratitude.  When we see the world, and each other, through the eyes of gratitude, we are truly seeing clearly.  Gratitude lifts our gaze upward, clears the gunk from our eye so that we can see the love, beauty and abundance that is either right in front of us, or is hidden within a challenge.  Gratitude is powerful at helping us see the blessing in any challenge and then begin to call forth that blessing.

Try if for yourself…right now.  Do a little assessment of how you are feeling right now.  What have been the thoughts that have occupied your mind this morning?

Now, think of five things for which you are grateful.  Really allow that gratitude to flood your entire body.  In your mind, celebrate those those blessings.

Now, how are you feeling?  And…how are you viewing the world?  Is is scary and alienating?  Does your good seem out of reach?  Or, do you feel that the good in life is open and available to you?

This is an experiment Try it and reply here with your results.

Many blessings!