Sense Beneath the Surface

Appearances are deceiving

Today’s subject, dear reader, is “Scary Appearances that Hide Inner Beauty.” We see many examples of this in life. The classic fairy tale, Beauty and the Beast explains the principle very well. It’s not the beast’s fault he looks that way; it’s something he can’t help. In fact, deep inside he’s not a beast at all, he’s a handsome prince!

Even those of us who know better (can you say “woke?”) react negatively if faced unexpectedly with an unpleasant countenance. It’s instinctual, it seems; a survival thing.

I did it a few years ago to a Down’s Syndrome patient, and I felt like crap right away. Yes, I said “years ago.” I was so disappointed in myself that it seems like yesterday!

People like him are used to getting that reaction all the time. But I didn’t want to be one of those jerks who gives it to him!

it made a strong enough impression on me that I started working on it — trying to invent ways of making myself seem less uncontrollably reactive, so I might avoid hurting more people’s feelings in the future.

Here’s an idea you can try. It sometimes works!

When I’m caught off-guard and find myself reacting badly towards someone I’ve never met just because of how they look, I remind myself to breathe deeply and try to see them through my Third Eye — the center of my forehead.

The combination of breathing (which relaxes tense muscles) and moving the focus away from my physical eyes (which reminds me that we are spiritual beings) enables me to put some distance between my survival instinct and my higher mind.

Here’s a poor soul who suffers from something. How should I address this person? The same respectful way I would address anyone else!

Reading the description of this technique seems to take a long time. But the actual shift inside your head is almost instantaneous.

I know what some of you are thinking. Even if it turns out that you are in some sort of danger, you will handle it better if you are not afraid.

There’s a difference between a person’s looking the way he does because he can’t help it, and somebody making himself up to scare you. Those are two totally different scenarios.

It is often impossible to sense beneath the surface of things immediately; but we can train ourselves to make a pretty quick correction.

Whenever you are confronted by an appearance that frightens you, extend your intuition and sense beneath its surface.

And wish Healing on that which you perceive inside.