The point of today’s blog isn’t political affiliation, rather it’s another example of how a person’s experiences affect their viewpoint or belief systems.
An article in today’s Morning Call ( http://bit.ly/57O8HO ) tells the story of a lifelong Republican, Anne Horosky, who voted for McCain & Palin and never imagined that she’d host an event for the Obama Administration. But in June, 2009 the 53-year-old woman lost her job. This new experience created a new perspective. ”I’m seeing what it’s all about on the other side and now I understand how government can really work for someone who is in need,” Horosky said. So, at the request of The White House, on Monday night in Allentown, PA she’ll host a jobs forum and report back her findings.
Horosky’s been standing in a different spot, so to speak, since June and sees government differently, although it didn’t change. In some ways this is like the optical illusion below. Two people can be seeing the same thing, disagree, and yet both be right.
What do you see?
Remembering this when you’re interacting with people (particularly in a problem solving or brainstorming meeting) helps you be more open to other viewpoints. You may or may not have your mind changed but you can at least recognize your own paradigms, which provides the possibility of expanded thinking – a tremendous asset in today’s world.
PS – depending on whether you see the old lady or the young lady in the perception example above will determine your response. Will you offer to help her walk across the street or ask her out on a date?
I would love to get to know you! Join me on 
What a great reminder of the bit of zenophobia in all of us. I hope that one of the byproducts of social media and global business engagement will be the systematic chipping away of immutable viewpoints. The world continues to get smaller as the challenges become bigger. That means that we need to be bigger than our biases and able to expand the way we see the world and ourselves.
I think social media will make a difference. As we chat with people from around the world as easily as we do our next door neighbors it seems that biases will simply melt away.
I was just talking to a communications student last night about a related topic while out a a local restaurant. She commented that in the US we often define ourselves by what we are NOT. So Anne all of a sudden found herself in a new category – and there you go – a new way of seeing.
I would help either person across the street, and I wouldn’t ask either of them out on a date, nothing personal.. :)
An aha moment for me – I never thought about the fact that I sometimes (well actually more times than I’d like to admit) define myself by what I’m not. New Year’s Resolution time: Define myself by all that I am. Thanks Jessie.