Seeing Your Way to a Solution

Hunter Adams checked himself into a mental hospital. That’s where he met Arthur Mendelson, a fellow patient in the film Patch Adams. Here is the scene where Hunter Adams gets his nickname and so much more from an unlikely teacher.

(The movie clip features Robin Williams and is a short 3 minutes.)

My favorite line is when Arthur says, to Hunter…

“You’re focusing on the problem. If you focus on the problem, you can’t see the solutions. Never focus on the problem.

See what no one else sees. See what everyone chooses not to see out of fear, conformity, or laziness.

See the whole world anew each day!”

And for clarity, I add, “See the people!”

Where’s your focus? 

What happens when you only see on the problem? It seems to get bigger and the person gets smaller, less human, an obstacle. Have you noticed how easy it is to mistreat people you don’t see as people?

And, what if your focus is only on the people? Finding a solution to the problem is less likely. The “secret” is to see the people, approach the “problem” together, and then see the solution … to engage in healthy debate about the problem and not make it personal.

Create Space for Reflection

Where do you need to see the world anew today?

Where does fear, conformity, or laziness hold you back from connecting with another person in your Story?  What problem blocks your view?

What must change in order for you to “see the people?”

Here’s to your ability to see,

Steve

Image Credit: Keith Ellwood