Seeing What You Can't See

I read a lot of books.
But knowing doesn't always mean knowing.

Self-reflection doesn't always lead to self-awareness, especially because you can't see yourself.
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Sometimes the way we see ourselves doesn't match the way others see us because we are underestimating our abilities.

Sometimes it's because we are OVERestimating our abilities.

Recently, I have started to video tape myself when I play pickleball because I know that the camera doesn't lie.

Even when my coach corrects my posture (on my heels, not bending my legs, leaning over too much), it still helps for me to see it for myself.

I can know something intellectually, without knowing it viscerally.

Today we worked on my tendency to leave my racket low and stand up at the net.

We would start with a few dinks, and then every few moments, he would give me another fast ball at chest level to be sure that my racket was in the right position, and that I was low.

He wasn't trying to hurt me, but he was trying to bring about a deeper awareness.

We all have blind spots, and if we want to grow and improve in any area of life, it's important to have people around us who can give us the vision that we lack of ourselves.

Sometimes it hurts, (like my ball in the face).
But sometimes that tiny hurt is exactly what we need to improve.

That being said, no one has the right to be an asshole, and not everyone has the best glasses on.

Be sure to surround yourself with coaches who want the best for you, and who have a clear vision of where you want to go, and how to help you get there.

And yes, sometimes you have to pay them because it's worth it.

Originally posted on LinkedIn with comments.

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