Optical Illusions

Recently, I started using blue light glasses whilst working on my computer for long hours. I don’t wear glasses or contacts otherwise, so this is somewhat new for me. The lenses are perfectly clear with no prescription. Honestly, I find them to be peculiar and am skeptical about whether they work. In order to maintain my excellent ocular health and to enhance the versatility of my wardrobe, I’ll keep pretending I believe them to protect my eyes.

While utilizing my new fashion accessory and working at my laptop, I realized I could see the reflection of my eyes in the lens. (And what beautiful eyes they are might I say.) It’s not difficult to see past the reflection and focus on the object in my vision. Most of time, I don’t even notice it. Yet, whether I realize it or not, everything I see is first filtered through the reflection of my own eyes.

This concept is mirrored in my daily life. I sometimes struggle to see people without first projecting on them a resemblance of my own image. My Uncle frequently reminds me, “Stop expecting you from other people.”

I interpret other’s actions through the filter of expectations I hold for myself. I expect others to respond to or approach life in the same way I would. This often leads to disappointment, not just for me, but for others too.

I cannot tell you the plethora of times I’ve felt frustrated as a consequence of expecting someone to act in a way that I would act or respond how I would respond. “How could you treat me like that?! I would never treat you that way!” or “Why would you say that to me?! I would never say something like that to you.”

This is a faulty practice that robs me the opportunity to truly know someone. When we remove the reflection of personal expectations, it reveals reality. No matter what we want see in other people, they can only be who they are. It takes practice to see things as they are, accept that realty, and expect nothing more. This allows us the opportunity to be surprised by people. Conversely, it might reveal disappointing truths. Reality is a much better place in which to live when it compares to the disillusionment of a world falsely represented by our own reflection.