The Blind Spots We Can't See Ourselves
True North Transitions: Discovering What Matters Most (Part 4)
One of the things I enjoy most about hiking in the mountains is the anticipation of what's around the next corner. Especially on a trail with long switchbacks.
You climb steadily, following the path in front of you, but you can't always see where it's leading. The next turn may reveal a breathtaking view—or simply another stretch of trail.
Transitions often feel the same way. We take a few steps forward. We gather information. We weigh options. We pray. We reflect. We try to discern what comes next. Yet despite our best efforts, there are times when we simply cannot see what is right in front of us.
Not because we're unwilling. Not because we're incapable. But because we all have blind spots.
The Limits of Our Own Perspective
One of the challenges of navigating transition is that we're experiencing it from the inside.
We're carrying the emotions. We're living with the uncertainty. We're trying to make sense of competing desires, responsibilities, fears, and possibilities. And when we're deep in the messy middle, it can be difficult to see clearly.
Sometimes we become so focused on finding the answer that we stop paying attention to the invitations hidden within the journey itself. I've certainly experienced that.
Several years ago, I found myself in the middle of a significant transition. I was working hard to figure things out. Thinking. Planning. Analyzing. Trying to discern the right path forward.
If I'm honest, I was probably trying to push my way through the ambiguity rather than listen to what it might be teaching me. Then a trusted friend asked me a simple question. "Tim, have you taken time to breathe?"
At first, it seemed almost too simple. But the question stopped me in my tracks. It helped me realize that I had become so focused on solving the transition that I wasn't slowing down long enough to notice what was happening within me—or what the Lord might be inviting me to pay attention to.
That conversation didn't give me all the answers. But it gave me something equally valuable: A different perspective.
Sometimes We Need Help Seeing What We Can't See
One of the gifts of honest conversations is that they often help us see what we've been missing.
A trusted friend. A mentor. A coach. A fellow traveler.
Not someone who tells us what to do. But someone who helps us notice what we've overlooked. Someone who asks the question we weren't asking ourselves. Someone who gently helps us step back and look at the trail from a different vantage point.
In many ways, discovery is not just about finding answers. It's about seeing more clearly.
The Value of a Trustworthy Guide
Experienced hikers know that a guide doesn't remove the challenge of the journey. You still have to walk the trail yourself. You still have to navigate the climb. But a guide can help you recognize landmarks, avoid unnecessary detours, and notice views you might otherwise miss.
The same can be true in transition. Sometimes what we need most isn't more information. We need someone who can help us slow down, listen carefully, and discern what matters most. Someone who can help us distinguish between fear and wisdom. Between urgency and importance. Between activity and intentionality.
A Reflection for This Week
As you continue your own discovery journey, consider these questions:
What perspective might I be missing right now?
Who are the trusted people in my life who can help me see more clearly?
Where might I be trying to push through rather than pause and listen?
What invitations might God be placing in front of me that I've been too busy to notice?
You don't have to answer them all. Just start with one. Sometimes a single question can open a new view.
An Invitation
Discovery is often difficult to do alone. That's why meaningful conversations matter.
Whether through a trusted friend, a mentor, a coach, or a small group of fellow travelers, we often gain clarity when someone helps us see what we couldn't see ourselves. And sometimes the most important step forward begins with a simple question:
Have you taken time to breathe?
-Tim
P.S. If you've found the Needs & Values Reflection Worksheet helpful but would like to explore your situation more deeply, I'd be glad to help. Sometimes a conversation can reveal perspectives and possibilities that are difficult to see on our own. If you'd like to talk about your current transition and explore whether coaching might be helpful, you can schedule a complimentary Discovery Call.
