Overcoming Blind Spots

Warwick Marsh

5th February, 2007

A few years ago I remember driving pretty fast along a three lane highway. I was about to change lanes in order to make a right hand turn and quickly checked in my rear view mirror. Nothing there!

I went to make the lane change but hesitated for a split second. I was glad I did. Out of nowhere came a massive truck that would have killed me had I not hesitated for that split second.

The truck was in my blind spot.

Not being aware of your blind spots can cause great pain and heartache.

Our eyes have blind spots. Each of our eyes contains an area that has no photoreceptors because it is occupied by the optic nerve. You may not have noticed these areas because they are on opposite sides of your visual field. However, this exercise is designed to isolate your blind spot and you will be amazed at the results.

Instructions:

Close your left eye and fixate your right eye on the cross in the first diagram. If your eye is about 30 cm away from the monitor, you should notice that the round dot disappears. This distance may vary according to the screen resolution you have set.

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You may be surprised to see that the dot is replaced, not by a black region, but rather blank white space. The brain simply 'fills in' the most probable stimulus (in this case, a uniform white area) where there is none.

Stephen R Covey had tremendous success with his 'Seven Habits of Highly Effective People' ©1990. Recently someone wrote an article called 'Seven Habits of Highly Defective People'. This article takes a light-hearted, irreverent look at analysing the habits of the people who do not have such great prosperity. Chronically less than successful people suffer from seven diseases (or habits) including:

• Playing the victim
• Failure to see the bigger picture
• A lack of priorities
• Destructive competition
• Blind spots
• A lack of creativity
• Resistance to change

It is so easy to be less than successful. If we always blame our circumstances or our upbringing, we never fully take responsibility for our own life. We must become the change we seek. True change starts with the individual who takes responsibility for change. All of us are part of a family in one way or another. We are part of a community, or maybe we are committed to a local church. All of us are part of a nation, and all of us make up the world. The world does not revolve around us and we need each other. We must see the big picture in everything we do.

Goal setting is the foundation key for success. If we don't know where we are going, we probably will never get there. Plan your work and work your plan. Developing your priorities in life, business, church and family are critical for your success. Don't compete with others for the sake of bolstering your own ego. Always go for win-win situations. Love your neighbour as yourself and avoid destructive competition. Work on being creative and innovative in every thing you do. If you can't be creative, work with people who are. It might rub off. Don't just work harder - think smarter, and whatever you do, be open to change. Our world is changing faster than ever before. Not all the changes are good and you must make a judgement about right and wrong at all times, but don't resist change if the change will improve things.

Lastly, and most importantly, work out what your blind spots are and deal with them at all costs. The trouble with blind spots is that most people don't know they have them until it is too late. You might have blind spots in relationships with your wife and children. ie areas of weakness or inconsistencies that you just don't know about. Sometimes at our weekly family dinners every Monday night the conversation gets heated. Sometimes I have to apologise because I am wrong. Sometimes others have to do the same. Our wives and children are great at pointing out our blind spots if we are brave enough to listen.

The workplace can also be a great place to expose and improve or remove blind spots. Our employers will be very happy if we do so.

Our friendship networks in the community or church can also be places where we can, through positive relationships, get rid of our blind spots.

Every Friday morning I meet with four or five men for breakfast. This is a great accountability group. Mostly we talk, sometimes we pray. It is a great time to share our hearts, be transparent and open to the revelation of our blind spots. 'Better are the wounds of a friend than the kisses of an enemy.' Such a group can provide a positive place of healing for the heart, and a blind spot removal par excellence. After all, getting hit by a truck is not a nice experience for any of us.

Lovework

Work on your blind spots as a father with your spouse and family. Ask your children how you can improve. They won't hesitate to tell you. Why not get together in a regular men's group to hang out, talk and challenge each other in the art of life.

Yours for less blind spots

Warwick Marsh

PS Great news! Last week the Fatherhood Foundation received an offer of a $30,000 interest free loan over 5 years. This will go towards purchase/setup of a new office. If we are to go ahead with a purchase we will need to raise much more.

Would anyone else be able to help us with an interest free loan for 5 years?

Any amount from $5,000 to $100,000 would be fantastic.

Please email me at info@fathersonline.org

Dad's Prayer

How I hate those blind spots!
Most of the time I don't even know I've got them.
That's why it's so scary when something pops up
and I didn't see it coming.
Of course the really bad Blind Spots
are our own character defects,
that always seem to want to come back
and bite us every time.
Once bitten, twice shy.
Could you help me get rid of them?