How Many Do You See?

How many roses do you see in this picture?

This question probably falls under the category of "trick." A fleeting glance may cause a person to say they see three roses. Upon closer inspection, the more observant person may claim to see four. When looking at the photograph, a person honestly sees three or 4 flowers. But that is an erroneous perception, isn't it?

Naturally, there are only two red roses. My taking the shot with the vase positioned in front of a mirror skewed the perspective a little. This placement created the illusion of there being more flowers than there really were.

In my mind, this is a perfect example of "things are not always as they seem." In any given situation, there are many different perspectives from which the circumstance can be viewed. Often, people are too close to a particular life-event to have that ability.

I believe the perspective from which one sees a situation is determined by two factors: the individual's personality and their past experiences. In the area of personality, some people are eternal optimists, possessing the ability to take almost any circumstance and give it a positive spin. Naturally, the pessimist does the opposite. A few people occupy the middle ground. These are the folks who often use the term, "cautiously optimisitc."

Past experience also dictates a person's perspective. "I've been here before," or "I've seen so-and-so go through this" are two common thoughts as individuals move through their lives. Time and life are linear, but also circular. Because it appears that we go through the same or similar trials again and again, our viewpoints are often influenced by the past.

There are times when, depending upon the situation at hand, the naturally optimistic person may actually become a pessimist and vice versa. This makes me think past experience has more bearing upon a person's outlook than does their personality.

So what's the point? Actually, there are a couple of them. First, in order to see any situation clearly, taking a step back in order to consider more of the angles is a good idea. Our individual perspective of a situation may not be complete. I may see something one way while you see it another. This does not mean either one of us is wrong. Often, the truth or crux of a matter lies in the middle. It is helpful to ask trusted friends about circumstances in which we may have problems being objective.

Secondly, we do not have to let past experience or the events others have gone through determine the way we perceive a current state of affairs. The past does not have to repeat itself, nor do we have to handle the matter at hand the same way we have before.

Finally, I have come to believe it is best to assume the best. Suspicious minds are a playground for accusations, confusion, and jumped-to conclusions. Optimistic outlooks appear to be more open to possibilities and options. Therefore, it makes sense to find an optimist to help you through a situation in which you are feeling pessimistic. There is a wealth of energy, encouragement, peace, and even joy to be found in the presence of such a person.

I sure do like the idea of having three roses rather than two. That is why I placed the vase in front of the mirror. Stealing yet another line from an old but favorite movie, "As your teacher Mr. Spock is fond of saying, 'I like to believe there are always...possibilities.'"