Have you ever re-read a book only to discover a section or chapter that wasn’t there before? Or perhaps you listened to a piece of music again and heard something new, or watched a movie and were impacted by a scene you could swear you’ve not seen before?
Sometimes we miss things because we aren’t paying attention or are distracted. That’s not what I’m talking about. I’m referring to is the awareness of something big appearing on your mental windshield that you didn’t see previously. When it happens to me, it can be exciting because of growth and fresh perspective I’m realizing or frustrating because a blind spot just became obvious.
I’ve come to realize that these moments of insight represent increased awareness, growth and perspective that wasn’t available previously. Nothing in the book, movie or song changed except for my ability to understand, interpret and integrate it.
The real driver behind this is greater inner and external awareness. This awareness must be cultivated and nurtured because it doesn’t happen when you’re racing from one task to the other or when you’re plowing through your to-do list.
Slow down and take time to rediscover what wasn’t there last time by:

• Re-reading a favourite book or article
• Re-visiting a place, you’ve not been at in some time – Cathedral, art gallery or park
• Re-listening a symphony or your favourite jazz or rock artists
• Re-watching a classic movie
• Re-kindling an old relationship where both of you drifted apart for no apparent reason
• Reflecting on why you do what you do. (beyond the doing your job to pay the rent and buy groceries – the deeper why that leads to fulfillment)

Take time to notice and reflect on what is around you that you’ve been missing and not able to take advantage of, you may find it’s been there all along and only revealed itself when you were ready or able to see it.
“Slow down and enjoy life. It’s not only the scenery you miss by going too fast – you also miss the sense of where you are going and why.” ~ Eddie Cantor