Imagine we live in a world where everyone wears glasses that have a particular distorting effect.

When you wear the glasses, your senses notice only the positive in what others have or do and diminish what you have or do.

Through those glasses, my experience would be:

• My house looks small and in need of repair, while other people’s houses look like gleaming mansions.
• My mirror shows me an overweight man who’s exhausted and likely past his prime. Looking out the window, I see stylish, energetic, and healthy winners.
• Looking at my business, I’d see missed goals, unfinished efforts, and broken dreams. When I look at other people’s businesses, I’d see success, accomplishment, and growth.

What would it be like to live with those glasses on?

Pause for a minute and think about those questions. What would it be like?

Now, for the moment of truth. How many of your automatic, unconscious thoughts sound like they are coming from someone wearing those glasses?

If your friend told you about these recurring unkind automatic thoughts, what would you say to them?

Maybe you don’t experience those thoughts, but do you:

• Notice what’s going well and acknowledge yourself for it?
• Imagine a future where the problems you are dealing with now are a forgotten memory?
• Get free of comparison to others?

We all have room to grow here, right?

Now let’s play “Freaky Friday!”

What if you got your hands on the reverse of those glasses? Your new glasses amplify what is good in your own world and make it hard to judge what is going on with others. What might change?

What if:

• When you were spending time as a family, and you saw all the difficulties you’ve overcome, and remembered all the good times you had together?
• When you receive a challenging email from a client, and you immediately recall how much you learned and grew through the last client challenge?
• The financial news of the day reminded you of how your resiliency and creativity have carried you through difficult times before?

What would life be like with those glasses on?

Extra Bonus Question…

What would have to be true to live life without any glasses? Where you saw things as they are, with all the delight, disappointment, challenge, and triumph mixed together.

If this prompted any useful reflection, hit reply and share it with me. I’d love to hear what came up for you.