My internet friend Ann Voskamp shares a story on Renee Swope’s blog; a story about Josh Bell. You can find the full story in her book 1000 Gifts or
you can read an article here, but basically it’s this:
Josh Bell was playing his violin in a train station in Washington DC. Very few people stopped to listen because he was an ordinary guy sitting next to a trashcan. However, Josh Bell was one of the finest classical musicians in the world. Just a few nights earlier he had played to sold-out crowds, and people had paid hundreds of dollars for the chance to hear his music.
What made the difference was the venue where Josh Bell performed, and the context of how he was presented. Was he a beggar in a train station playing for tips? Or was he one of the most talented musicians in the world?
What was the frame?
If you scroll down to the bottom of the blog post, you will see a video, and you will hear Renee and Ann talking about paying attention to how we frame our days.
Do we notice the gift and miracle that each day is?
Are we grateful for the iridescence in a soap bubble or cranky because we have dirty dishes to wash?
Psychologists call this perceptual set. Another clinical word is confirmation bias. It is a tendency to search for or interpret information in a way that confirms one’s preconceptions.
If I have a belief that the world is full of mean people, I will scan my environment and find evidence to prove it. I will watch and confirm every mean thing I see, and that will set my attitude for future days, weeks, and years. I will probably become hopeless and depressed.
On the other hand, if I believe people are kind, I will seek out and notice all the sweet people and the things they do to help others.
So what are you choosing to see today? Collect evidence for what you choose to see!