As the lingering aroma of my lunch filled the air, I was lost in thought as I washed the last few dishes in the sink. Looking out of the kitchen window, my gaze fell upon a barren forest, nestled atop a rocky hillside on a cold spring day in Connecticut. Suddenly, I noticed not one, but two, no, perhaps six deer standing on between the trees, gazing back at me.
The sight of the camouflaged deer brought to mind a curious theory I had heard about - the "Invisible Ships Phenomenon" - which suggests that sometimes our minds fail to register what is happening right in front of us, just like the native peoples who supposedly didn't see Columbus's ships. This realization left me pondering how often we may be oblivious to the things around us that do not fit our field of experience.
Have you ever experienced an "epiphany" that made you say to yourself, "Why didn't I think of that earlier?" It's like the answer was right in front of our eyes, but we couldn't see it. This is a common problem we face, and I believe that the key to solving most of our problems lies in being able to see what is right in front of us.
The challenge is that we may not be ready to see it yet. We may lack the necessary experience or perspective. So, what would make us ready? What would we need to do, be, or think to see the possibilities and opportunities waiting for us?
Intermission for a Story from my life at the Frameshop at age 23... "Calling it to You"
Every time a customer would come to pick up their finished framed art, I would get this uneasy feeling in my stomach. I was always afraid that something would go wrong. The frame shop was so disorganized that the piece may not be labeled right, or it may not actually be finished. On one particular day, I was exceptionally stressed due to customer complaints, and of course, I had a customer come to the desk to pick up a piece, and I could not find it for the life of me. I searched high and low, but it was nowhere to be found.
That's when my cool and collected manager came to the rescue. He was always calm, and in a matter of seconds, he found it. I was flabbergasted; it was right in front of me the whole time. I couldn't believe how quickly he found it, and it made me wonder how he did it.
That's when I realized that my energy was the biggest factor in not seeing it. My nerves were giving off a signal that the framed art did not resonate with, and therefore, I would not see it. However, my boss was calm and believed that it was right there, even though he didn't even work in the frame shop. He had no reason to believe otherwise.
I learned that calling something to you is just that. You have to get in resonance with it. How would it feel to receive it? Get there, and it will come!
It's easy to become frustrated and think that there is no way forward. However, giving up might actually be the key to finding the answer. Sometimes we need to let go of what we think we know and approach the problem with a fresh perspective.
Here's a secret to uncovering any answer, whether it's a lost item or a solution to a problem.
What I call
The Bridge to Opportunities
First, ask yourself why the item is lost or why the problem is not solved. What can you learn from this situation?
Next, forgive yourself for not knowing or getting it right.
Finally, let it go and move forward as if the answer is already there. Act like you'll be okay either way, and then it will appear when you least expect it.
This idea can be applied to the theory of Camouflage or the "Invisible Ships Phenomenon." Our minds and the energy those thoughts give off can act as camouflage, making it difficult to see what is right in front of us. We need to believe in the possibility and call it forward, even if it sounds hokey.
If this article resonated with you, write "Bridge to Opportunities" in a DM and receive my free meditations link.
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