Revising impressions !

My first impression of this jasmine blossom was what is in the first photograph, when I viewed it from one angle. I moved closer and viewed it from another angle. That was when I noticed the petals better and saw two buds instead of one as in the first photograph. 

This initiated me to look at my inward impressions on many matters. How often I take a rounded view of a situation?

Yesterday, the peace conversation between Israel and Hamas entered the second day after two years of devastating confrontation. 

If only they changed their positions and viewed each other as neighbours, the hostility could have been overcome ! 

I did an exercise of recalling a few difficult situations I have been part of in the last five years at work and involvements ! I received a new perspective about conflicting situation. 

On one difficult situation, what helped was negotiation. I noticed that both engaging in the negotiating conversation had a flexible position which created space for lateral thinking. They arrived at a consensus which suited both groups which was different from their earlier position or expectations. I felt encouraged to hear from both groups that what they arrived at looked better than what each was insisting for!

The truth has an expansive dimension in depth and breadth. It is openness to revise our initial impressions which gives us a chance to appreciate matters beyond our filtered view!

I sense that fear of loss of 'control' or loss of 'importance' are filters which alter perception! 

All of us from childhood sleep with our palms open ! In fact, if the fist is closed it is considered to be different from the usual pattern in children. That is the subconscious state of our inner intent! To be open! If  we are open, then letting go is a natural attitude! 

In an experiment with children while picking up marbles from the table, I noticed that some children picked up one by one and some others picked up an handful of them. Children who picked one or a few started playing with them. But those who took a handful of them in each palm held on to the marbles and lost the pleasure of playing with them as they refused to 'let go'! 

My impression of the jasmine blossom was not complete till I let go of first impression to explore if there was something more to see !

The journey to revise our impression or opinion,  if taken voluntarily most of the times, we enlarge our perception! That is a way to embrace the whole truth!

M.C.Mathew(text and photo)