Myopia is a condition of attention and concentration. The mind naturally defends itself and its interests. Long before and after Freud observed (invented) the Ego, it’s has been well known that we mediate between what we really want to do and what we think we can get away without shame or punishment.
Given all this work to do, and the limited amount of psychic ram available to Homo sapiens, how can we expect to attend to and take care of our long-term interests? How can we possibly even see ourselves clearly, or at least imagine how others see, hear, and judge us?
Psychic myopia is thus part of the human condition. And that’s why we need others around us to mirror us accurately, to nudge us out of our ruts, to help us to lower our fear and greed long enough to get perspective.
There is no cure for psychic myopia. But we can borrow spectacles from those whose professions enable perspective in various dimensions of life. Good therapists, good consultants, good coaches, and good spiritual advisers.
Psychic myopia, conversely, can harden when we put ourselves in the company of bad therapists, bad consultants, bad coaches, and bad spiritual advisers. They tell us, at first, that what we see is true and complete, that we are wise and that the world is foolish. They stroke our egos, blinding us with our own limited vision.
How do you tell the difference between the good spectacles and the blinders? The good spectacles make us feel uncomfortable and a bit out of control at first, but soon we feel better and more effective. The blinders make us feel good at first, but soon we grow smaller and more dependent.
If you are looking to others to gain insight into your business or your life, which help with psychic myopia are you receiving? Can you tell and feel the difference?
Technorati Tags: coaching, consulting