Is Your Mind Blind?

We all too often refer to the state of blindness as a physical disability. And, we all know how debilitating this physically challenging state can be for those who had sight previously in their life and went blind because of an accident.

But, did you know that blindness could also affect people who have perfectly good eyesight?

1. Struggles Eliminated
I am thinking specifically of those types of people who may not have had a lot in their lives, and who constantly struggled just to put food on their table, or to pay those recurring monthly bills.

And, down the road, some of these people had the good fortune to be assisted to do more
and have more by a special friend or, in some cases, people who were originally complete strangers.

Some people were given every opportunity to get ahead and had assistance in helping them pay bills, or help in finding a better job through personal contacts.

And, as time goes by, these people excelled and were able to move on to better living conditions and in many cases, were able to not only buy their first home but were able to start enjoying some of the finer amenities of life.

2. Helped But Not Helping
So, why do I refer to some of these people as suffering from blindness?

Simply put, once they succeeded in leaving their unrewarding past behind, they also left behind their capacity to acknowledge, or help those still less fortunate and those who also were in the same position they were only a short time ago.

It seems that they suffer from blindness in not being able to see that what you give you get back over and over again; they forgot that they had help to move forward in life and they are now blind to the responsibility to help at least one other person to be what they can be through active helping.

3. Selfishness
To me, there is nothing as sad as a person who becomes selfish when they in fact would never have succeeded without the assistance of another person.

Now, does this mean that you should not help someone who is hard pressed to get ahead because they do not have the skills, or the where withal to take advantage of opportunities, or to even know how to take advantage of educational programs specifically designed for part-time attendance because no one has shown them the way?

It Means
No, it does not mean this at all. What it means is that giving to others is more a state of mind, the ability to see beyond our own selfishness, or our own self-image or ego.

It means that we are human and every human has a responsibility to help those who are not as well positioned to help themselves.

It means that we continue to offer kindness, consideration, and assistance because whether we want to admit it or not, we all had help of one sort or another to accomplish what we wanted, or to be where we wanted, or to have more than we ever imagined.

It is also true, unfortunately, that many people who have the means, the time and the opportunity do not help in any way shape or form. They somehow seem to expect that everybody else should help but them. Is this just plain selfishness? Or, is it more about whom they really are inside?

Not everyone who has the means needs to help every time with everything. This is not to say, however, that there sight is impaired. They know the situations and circumstances of many desperate people but still choose to ignore them. It is something like seeing a sinking ship and just goes sailing by.

4. Are You Fortunate?
The fortunate are those who know how to care, how to demonstrate kindness and know how to set their priorities in life consistent with the true and genuine nature of great people.

I would welcome you to the fold; it is never too late to shed your blinders and see the world as one where all people are caring and able and willing to assist. Giving and helping others will make this world a better place!

Inspirational Quotes for Reflection:
"The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched - they must be felt with the heart." Helen Keller

"To look up and not down, To look forward and not back, To look out and not in, and To lend a hand." Edward Everett Hale

"To do more for than the world than the world does for you - that is success." Henry Ford

Author: Catherine Pulsifer, © 2011

Is your mind blind? What have you learn't from this?