Respect - The Art of Looking Again

Photo by Dave Webb on Unsplash

Do you have any idea how long it takes to have a first impression? Ten seconds? Four seconds? It actually takes only one-tenth of a second according to research reported on the Association for Psychological Science website. For us to decide that quickly means there have to be assumptions, expectations, judgments already in place -- all that we already know before we even have a look.

The image above is actually mostly a painting. A real chair has been strategically placed to enhance the illusion that a boy is reaching toward a hole in the wall. The boy isn't real even though our first glance suggests he is.

Much of how we relate to people in the day-to-day activities of our lives is based on impressions, expectations, stories about how they are. This week, I invite you to look again, that's the underlying derivation of "respect." Rather than rely on snap judgments, take the time to really see the person in front of you. If you talking with them, consider listening more than you speak, asking open-ended, compassionate questions coming from a sincere curiosity to know more about who they are.

This isn't necessarily an approach for every conversation you have. It is a lovely way to engage in at least some of them.

Here's to taking a second or third look, to showing some respect.