The Power of Inner Seeing: A Shift Toward Transformation

I have worn glasses for a number of years. Glasses help those of us who have myopia, presbyopia, or astigmatism. They help us to see better. They improve our vision. I paused to reflect on the power of seeing this week. The more I looked, the more I saw. What do I mean by that? Let’s explore transformation together. One of the keys to transformation is the power of seeing. When I get a flutter in my heart and a deep sense of knowing (or seeing) …this is where a shift happens.

William Shakespeare, is known for saying “The eyes are the windows to the soul” as he draws on biblical references to connect the body and soul. Weather it’s a pattern in behavior, a deeper understanding of my thoughts, or a new perspective on my life, one thing has certainly been highlighted to me: once you see it, you can never ‘unsee’ it, as they say.

During the past couple of weeks, I’ve had the pleasure of working on some texts for Dream it! Dare it! Do it! Live the Life you Want! and I found myself listening to the episodes over and over! This is the power of loving the work you do, but I’ll leave that rumination for another time.

Dr. Dicken Bettinger spoke about the power of observing children (another favorite topic of mine). When speaking about compassion, emotional reactions to unkindness, and the role of presence in managing emotions, he explored the nature of happiness and the importance of self-reflection and understanding one’s own emotions. He echoed the words of Syd Banks, who, like Shakespeare, pointed to a spiritual understanding of self rather than a logical approach to seeing within. In The Enlightened Gardener Revisited, Syd writes: Darkness cannot survive in the midst of light, and living in the now is that light.”

By gaining insight into the way our minds work, and how our thoughts shape our experience, we create our own reality moment by moment. It’s like being in a dark room, stumbling around in confusion, and then suddenly turning on the light. The moment the light switches on, you can’t go back to the darkness—you now have a completely different perspective. I’ve come to understand that this is what leads to seeing. It’s like wearing the right pair of glasses.

For example, if I think about a habit I’ve been trying to change (it may have something to do with chocolate😊), I become conscious of the thought patterns or beliefs that drive it, and then something almost magical happens…the habit slowly begins to lose its power. What seemed hard is actually simple and what appeared as a struggle is effortless. The thoughts dissipate. This shift in awareness doesn’t require struggle—it simply begins to change as I continue to notice it. Gently, steadily, there is a shift. Things become clear.

I have learned that this doesn’t only apply to obvious habits around food, sweets, tardiness, etc. At the core, they are all habits of thinking. Just like negative thinking, fearful thinking, etc., they are habits. In the same way as when we wear the wrong pair of glasses, our inner vision is blurred. The same applies when there is too much thinking. We judge ourselves, believing this is just “who we are.” But the moment we truly see that this is simply a thought-driven belief, the possibility of change becomes clear.

From that moment on, we can never unsee it. For myself, each time I experience an inner seeing, it feels like I just changed my prescription again, and a sharper lens replaced the old one. I love noticing the way my thoughts are creating my experience. It’s pretty exciting. Plus, the pressure to change through willpower dissipates. Change becomes a natural result of awareness.

I’ll never forget when I first started working with Jasmyne and each time she sent me a text to edit, I thought she was using the word ‘seeing’ in a wrong way. I would change it and then she would change it back. Now, I’m really beginning to see what she meant.

Thoughts will always arise, but observing them without judgment or attachment, without the need to fix something…that points us in the right direction. There is no need to force change. Until then, I will continue to see one day at a time.