Finding Your Blind Spot
Photo by Ryoji Iwata on Unsplash
A blind spot is defined, in part, by Merriam-Webster as an area in which one fails to exercise judgment or discrimination. We spend most of our lives ignoring our blind spots. Not because we are self-important a**holes, but because it takes humility and vulnerability to identify where we are failing. And humans hate to acknowledge their own deficiencies.
We think it makes us weak. So we power through and ignore the error of our ways just so our ego can feel a bit more supported. But when we do this we are doing a disservice to ourselves and to all of those around us. Because the more we ignore our blind spots in life, the more we hide from the things that hold us back the most.
How To Find Your Blind Spot
This should be easy. We all know where our soft spots are. Or we did. We have just glossed over them so many times that we have lost that spot inside a cavalcade of excuses and coddling. Sometimes our blind spot is for a person.Sometimes it’s for some act of perceived self-preservation. But it’s never good. Because when our blind spot is activated, we can’t see.
It’s difficult to find something when you can’t see what you are looking for and when your entire life has been about suppressing this one blemish. But if you don’t take this journey at some point in your life, you will continue to foster an idealized version of your own reality. And that can sound good for a while, but it won’t last forever. Neither will you.
You know where your blind spot is when you are driving, but you can’t see it. The only way you can identify it is by subtle adjustments. If you drive faster, you can see the spot where the old blind spot was, but now there is a new one. If you slow down, it’s the same. But by making these adjustments you are seeing the areas where your blind spots are.
In order to find your blind spots in life, you have to do the same. By making subtle adjustments in the way that you do things, the way that you react, the way that you protect, your blind spot will begin to emerge. It’s on you to classify it and acknowledge it before you hide it away again.
Why We Like Our Blind Spots
Out of sight, out of mind. Our blind spots are where we hide the things we don’t want to address in our lives. It’s almost a comfort mechanism that we use to push things down so deep that we can barely even notice them. And once they are buried, we can stop worrying about them.
But what we are doing is creating a negative loop. Because the things we hide from ourselves will always come back. When we make an unintended adjustment, they will show up. And then we will be left to hide them again. Our problem is that we like hiding them.
We like our blind spots because they allow us a temporary break from ourselves. They allow us to pass over an impediment. Because it’s easier than dealing with it head-on and addressing the issue. But this is not healthy. Digging a hole and dumping a problem in it doesn’t solve it.
We tell ourselves it’s just for today. Today I will hide it, but tomorrow I will work on it. But we won’t. We like our blind spots because sometimes they keep things hidden from us for a long time. And the more we use them intentionally, the easier it becomes. The blind spot becomes our friend.
Everyone has blind spots, and even the brightest people are no exceptions. — Li Lu
What It Means For Your Future
Imagine a car without a blind spot. It would be a lot easier if you didn’t have to turn around every time you wanted to change lanes. Even with technological advancements inside our vehicles, I don’t think we will ever be comfortable relying on a computer to tell us, for sure, that there isn’t a car next door. But it would be nice.
Now imagine a life without a blind spot. This is possible. When you are real with yourself and honest with those around you, you are able to uncover the things that are holding you back. Because those things are often hidden in our blind spots. And we know it.
Your future will be different without a safe house for your weaknesses. By spotting your weakest traits, you can begin to do something about them. By knowing who in your life is your weak spot, you can address how to change that.
Your blind spot is an enabler. Your blind spot is pulling you back down the ladder when you are trying to climb to the top. Your blind spot is holding you back. If you take the time to find your blind spots, your future will change. Because you will be accountable. To yourself.
It’s important for a leader to hear about his blind spots on a regular basis so working on them is periodically top of mind. — Scott Weiss
Photo by Jeremy Yap on Unsplash