Through My Eyes

During my time of reflection, I came across a verse that says, “The eye is the lamp of the body.” It speaks about how a healthy eye brings light, while an unhealthy eye brings darkness. It reminded me of another saying we often hear: “Our eyes are the windows of our soul.”

Yes, my faith forms part of this reflection, but the meaning stretches far beyond religion. It is about how we look at the world around us — and perhaps even more importantly, what we allow our eyes to absorb.

Every image, every moment, every interaction becomes information that shapes our inner world. The way we see influences the way we feel, think, and respond. Our eyes don’t just look outward; they also feed inward.

This got me thinking about how easily we slip into seeing things as ordinary, automatic, or simply “the way life is.” We become so busy moving through our days that we stop paying attention.

Sometimes we focus on what is wrong. We notice what we don't have, what went badly, what needs fixing, or what is weighing us down. And slowly, without even realising it, we can begin to miss the small, meaningful moments blended into our everyday lives.

Then we find ourselves asking: 

• Why does life feel so overwhelming? 

• Why do bad things keep happening to me? 

• Why am I stressed, unhappy, or drained?

But what if we could gently shift our perspective?

What if we intentionally look for the other side of our everyday moments — the small sparks of wonder, gratitude, joy and beauty that are already present?

What if we allow ourselves to notice the “wow” in the ordinary, the quiet gifts in nature, a kind interaction, a moment of laughter, or simply the feeling of being alive?

What if you could choose how you want to look at the world?

Choosing to see the light does not mean pretending the darkness isn't there. Life can be difficult. We experience loss, disappointment, stress and pain. But perhaps the darkness does not have to become the whole story.

Sometimes, life hasn't changed — but the way we are experiencing it has.

It is incredible how much light we can bring into our own lives when we begin to see differently. We don't always have to wait for someone else to brighten our world. Sometimes, we simply need to open our eyes to the light that is already there.

This won't necessarily feel easy at first.

Our “eyes” can become so used to rushing past life, focusing on what is wrong, or operating on autopilot that we may need an emotional and spiritual “eye check.”

We have to practise — day by day — noticing what we are truly looking at.

Whether you are religious or not, there is a quiet, honest beauty in nature that asks nothing from us. It is simply there, waiting to be noticed. And when we begin to appreciate these small moments, something shifts within us. We reconnect — with ourselves, with our surroundings, and perhaps with parts of ourselves we have neglected.

Learning to see the positive in everyday life is a gentle discipline.

It takes intention.It takes awareness.It takes practice.

A 60-Second Eye Check

Here is a simple daily activity to help retrain your eyes to notice the beauty around you.

Choose one ordinary moment in your day — your morning coffee, driving to work, stepping outside, sitting in the garden, or even washing the dishes.

For just 60 seconds, pause.

Look around you and intentionally notice three things that bring light into your world:

Something beautifulSomething that catches your eye or makes you smile.

Something meaningfulSomething that reminds you of what matters.

Something you would normally overlookA small detail you might usually rush past without noticing.

Don't analyse it. Don't force gratitude.

Just notice.

Because sometimes, when we pause long enough to really look, we discover that there was beauty there all along.

And perhaps the question isn't always:

“What is wrong with my life?”

Perhaps sometimes we need to ask:

“What am I not seeing?”

At Yara Counselling, I believe that sometimes healing begins by gently changing the way we see ourselves, our lives, and the world around us.

You don't have to walk that journey alone.