Blind Spots

My teenage daughter is taking the test required to get her driver’s permit. She will be on the road very soon! Part of learning to drive is to always be aware of what you are doing as a driver, as well as what those around you are doing…and how to navigate in a way where everyone gets safely to their destination.

Yet, when we are driving we all have “blind spots.” Areas within our environment where our view may be obstructed and we can’t clearly see what’s going on around us. As a driver, you have to always be checking your blind spot to make sure that there isn’t an obstacle in your way that you were not able to see because your view was obstructed. The side rearview mirrors on a car become a “tool” to allow the driver to get a better perspective on their blindspot. Additionally, newer cars have blindspot traffic indicators, backup cameras, and corrective steering to assist drivers with their potential blind spots. You can bet, as a parent and as a “co-pilot” in the car my daughter will be driving, I will be reminding her to check her blind spots. I will probably be checking them for her as well!

I will have you consider that our lives are also full of blind spots. That there are areas of our life that, for whatever reason, we may have an “obstructed view.” This is a reality. We may not even be aware of where our blindspots are, and we travel down the road oblivious to the things that we can not, or choose not, to see.

I will also have you consider that, just like the auto industry, there are “tools” out there to help us identify and navigate our blind spots. To help unobstructed our views.

There are the “mirrors” that we have around us. When was the last time you really looked at yourself through the lens of those around you? You took a good look in the mirror and honestly assessed your situation. Often times it is easier, to ignore the mirrors in our life.

There is also the “traffic indicators” and “back up cameras” that can assist you in identifying and navigating your blindspots. Technology today allows us access to so much information. There are personality assessments, online journals, lifestyle monitoring applications, masterminds, and webinars that can help us navigate new environments and give us a new perspective. It’s like having a “backup camera” in our life, where we can look to see what we might not normally be able to see.

Lastly, there is the person sitting next to you. Whether traveling in the car, or through life, having a “co-pilot” who you can trust to give you honest feedback and help you recognize and navigate your blind spot is essential. Sometimes, when the drive is tough, you may have to call in someone to ride with you. Driving alone is do-able, but when you have the right co-pilot(s), the various perspectives provide clarity.

Where in your personal or professional life are you not checking your blind spots? Are you simply ignoring them and expecting others to “get out of your way” or are you using mirrors, cameras, and co-pilots to give you the feedback and perspectives that you need to reach your destination?