A few weeks ago we were on vacation with my family. One of the most memorable moments for me was watching my son (4) start to learn to swim a bit. But there was one element that was just fascinating to watch.
He wore swimming goggles for the first time and where once he didn’t like going under the water, he couldn’t get enough. He was saying things like, “Wow!” “This is amazing!” and “This is awesome!” It was quite entertaining because it almost was like he was high he was so in awe of the new experience.
It was so quickly a reminder to me of the power of vision – of seeing the whole picture when we so often out of fear or limitations only see what’s on the surface. It was a reminder of how many ways I’m only seeing the surface of the pool, missing out on what’s beneath in different ways.
The most striking thing about watching my son was that seeing had an interesting effect – it empowered him. He grew bolder and started taking more risks, more chances. He pretty quickly began a rapid progression towards swimming without floaties, jumping in the pool, and trying other tricks of the trade. But if I look back, it was pretty clear something clicked for him when he was able to see under water. He went from tentative and fearful to king of the water.
It was a good lesson – being afraid of what we can’t see or don’t know yet can paralyze us. But seeing, once we break that barrier, can lead to transformation.
Do you resonate with this in your life?
