to sign up to receive your free motivational newsletter, mention "newsletter" in the contact box  - . Contact for free newsletter !!! Newsletter - July 2006 - Eye Exam - Seeing the Unseen
	One of the great inventions of all time has to be glasses.   Imagine what it would be like to not be able to read … to not be able to watch the Mets win the World Series onTV … to be limited to being a passenger and not a driver of an automobile … to not be able to see clearly the face of our loved ones … to be relegated to squinting to half-see our child’s joy … or needing an escort to navigate our way around the house … We could get by … but we would be bumbling through existence … not fully experiencing the wonders around us … not fully utilizing all we have. The first recorded evidence of corrective lenses comes from 50 AD and the Roman Emperor Nero.  He would watch the gladiator games with an emerald to correct for myopia. Glasses began to be commonly mentioned in northern Italy in the late 1200s.  Marco Polo reported seeing glasses during his adventures in China during that period.  During this time, a Dominican monk – Fra Alessandro da Spina of Pisa – is credited with re-inventing what may have been a Florentine invention by Salvino d’Armato.  Glasses didn’t really catch on until a British optician – Edward Scarlett in 1727 - added the wire frame and over the temple style still used today.  Our own Benjamin Franklin took a big step forward by inventing bifocals in 1784 to deal with both near and far sightedness. Once again … imagine how much of life we miss without good vision.  Daily life would be only a blur.  We often miss out on what is really important in life because we don’t see very good.   Here’s a free eye exam to see if you “see the unseen” … of what is important in life … keep score to see if you “need glasses” !!! 1.        You are on your way to work in the morning.  You left the house and are in traffic.  Which best describes you? (1 point)        Traffic is frustrating.  Conflicts at work get tossed and tossed around my mind.  I try to “steam”                     things away.  I'm cutting that guy off just to get even with him. (5 points)       My mind wanders between the radio, and the challenges of work and home.  I try to solve and                     organize.  A favorite song offers a break or distraction. (10 points)     I notice the clouds with the striking colors of whites and grays, with the bright orange sun edging out.                     At the corner is an oak tree standing strong as the wind waves across its leaves.  I quietly glance                     over at a co-traveler with a nod and a smile. 2.       You have a bad exchange with your boss.  You really start to question things in your work place.  And then you are swept into a self-reflective moment … you begin to survey your life  … (1 point)        I tend to feel demanding and like I am falling short.  The “bad coach” inside sees failures in work                     situations and the stress of family life.   (5 points)       I really don’t think about my self that often.  If I do get reflective, it is not judgmental, just a review of                     what is gong on in my life. (10 points)     I see my self as good person.  I like what I am doing, what I want to do, and how others see me.  I see                     my strengths as well as my weaknesses.  I see my self as growing, learning from experiences, and                     enjoying life. 3.        Riding up the elevator with a co-worker, you look over and acknowledge the person … (1 point)        My mind is still on those conflicts.  I switch gears just long enough to envision all that I have to do at                    work today.  I juggle, shift, and focus on all that is on my plate. (5 points)      The other person on the elevator is wearing nice clothes.  I try to show a good disposition, smile, and                    engage in small talk. (10 points)    I notice that something is bothering that person.  There is a heaviness in their eyes.  Later today, I’ll                    stop by their desk, ask how they are doing, and just chat … hoping to soften their burden. 4.        In a meeting at work or with others in a volunteer setting … is your contribution to the conversation …   (1 point)        I am great at identifying problems, especially aimed at certain people or groups.  I enjoy looking smart                    or wise in front of others.  My goal is to get my point across.   (5 points)      I try to contribute in some way.  I listen good and allow others to lead the way.  I will provide info as                    appropriate. (10 points)    I understand the direction of the group.  I contribute to problem solving, but I also look to solutions.                      I like to re-enforce the good points offered by others.  Rather than just getting sucked into the                    problems, I lead by keeping an eye on the process, the roles, and the set of steps the group must                    follow. 5.        At a store, you get into a conflict with a sales person … (1 point)         I paid good money.  I demand service.  I focus on right and wrong.  I reprimand and get angry. (5 points)        I ask and try to be nice.  I hope it turns out well.  Sometimes it does, sometimes it doesn’t.  That’s OK. (10 points)      I readily see their point of view.  I try to keep a good relationship.  I see it as a negotiation, so I break                      it down into smaller points to discuss and compromise.  I firmly and softly encourage the person to                      see my point of view in a non-threatening manner  … allowing time for a positive outcome.   6.        There is a certain person you don’t like.  But you are forced to interact because they are a co-worker or involved in the same volunteer activity as you … (1 point)           I often speak ill of that person, finding fault, paint them as bad or stupid person, and wanting others                       to see the real person they are. (5 points)         I ignore them.  I generally like people, but not everyone. (10 points)       I try to see the good in what they say or do.  Even if they say something “out of the box”, I try to                       see and communicate at least some value in part of what they said. 7.        A good friend or mate mentions doing something on Friday evening … (1 point)         I am busy.  I have so many things to do and a full schedule.  Maybe we can do it some other time. (5 points)       I tell them I’ll get back in touch.  I look at my schedule and try to balance all the priorities to determine                     if it works. (10 points)     Relationships are most important.  Great relationships require time.  I see this as a great way to spend                     my precious time.  Yes, yes, yes !!! 8.        Seeing a news story in the paper about a social issue really gets my attention … you tend to respond … (1 point)        With anger … I often don’t like reading the newspaper because there is so much conflict in the world                     Politicians are corrupt … activists are big mouth jerks just out for some mis-aligned cause … unless I                     happen to agree with them … (5 points)       I don’t really see news as right or wrong issues … its just people being people … personally I’d rather                     go fishing or to the mall! (10 points)     Current events are interesting … much of society’s struggles are just a natural, slow unfolding                     toward a just direction. 9.        What kind of goals and dream do you envision? (1 point)         My goals are day to day … getting up, eating, cleaning, fixing, and making it to work is a challenge                     enough! (5 points)       I have a pretty good idea of what I want to accomplish.  Nothing formal, but I tend to do most of                     what I plan. (10 points)     Life is a set of dreams … my mind’s eye continually sees activities, projects, and goals before they                     happen … but these are all part of a Divine Plan ... and I am part of that plan ... I have faith in what                     lies ahead. 10.          A song reminds me of an old friend.  Its been a long time since I talked with that friend. (1 point)        What a nice thought.  Those were the good old days. (5 points)      I should call that person.  But I tend to procrastinate, so it’s a 50/50 chance I’ll call. (10 points)    I see it as a great prompter.  Keeping in touch is important.  Being proactive is important for all                    tasks.  I’ll call that person today. Score your self!  If you scored … 75 to 100     you see the unseen secrets of life and likely lead a very powerful life! 40 to 75       you may want to consider some of these points as “reading glasses” to get just a little better read on what is going on around you … and help you with the finer print of life. 0 to 40         check your insurance policies!  You can improve your health by putting on contacts (consider a few of these new habits) or by getting laser surgery (spiritual experience).  Warning!  Failure to do so could affect your life insurance premiums! Being able to see the unseen is like looking through a precious gem ... when we focus on what is truly important, our lives take on a new and powerful dimension!  Rather than stumbling through the blur of the everyday routine, we begin to soar to new heights! By seeing the sunrise in the morning ... the look on the faces around us ... the goodness in others ... and the needs of others ... life becomes more profound. When we proceed with a sense of leadership toward solutions and team work ... we benefit from a power much greater than ourselves. When we refresh our approach to life to include spontaneity and see life as unfolding ... we relax and new strength comes to us. When we live life with a sense of dreams, yet with a humility toward a Divine Plan ... things come alive! We are what we see!  We are what we are prepared to see!   There is a power in seeing the unseen!  There is a power on this truth! 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