What lenses are we going to choose today?

Most of the time we don't consciously choose them at all. We inherit them.

We see life through the lenses of our experiences, our wounds, our beliefs, our culture, our fears, our hopes. We look at a text message through the lens of rejection. We look at a new opportunity through the lens of possibility. We look at uncertainty through the lens of danger or adventure.

The event stays the same.

The lens changes.

And that changes everything.

When we're tired, the world can look heavy.

When we're hurt, the world can look threatening.

When we're in love, the world can look magical.

The reality may not have changed at all.

Only the lens.

But then comes the interesting question: can we choose?

Yes and no.

We cannot always choose our first lens.

Our first reaction is often automatic. It comes from everything we have lived up until that moment. It is the lens we know.

But we can choose whether we stay there.

We can notice ourselves looking through the lens of fear and ask:

"What would this look like through curiosity?"

We can notice ourselves looking through the lens of judgment and ask:

"What would this look like through compassion?"

We can notice ourselves looking through the lens of certainty and ask:

"What would this look like if I allowed mystery?"

Perhaps wisdom is not about finding the right lens.

Perhaps wisdom is remembering that we are wearing one.

Because the moment we become aware of the lens, we create space.

And in that space, we have a choice.

Curiosity doesn't demand answers.

It simply cleans the glass.

It allows us to look again.

And maybe the question is not:

"What is happening?"

Maybe the question is:

"Through what lens am I seeing what is happening?"

And then, gently:

"Is this the lens I want to use today?"

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