Changing Perceptions Of Another - Exercise For Two People

The purpose of this exercise is firstly, to see how easy it is to project onto another person and then secondly, how we have the ability to change our mind or perspective about a person so as to see the highest in them. The exercise helps us to get in touch with our basic beliefs about the world and people. It shows us how easy it is to project and how we can decide what we believe. This exercise is done with two people to enable eye contact.

Transcript

Changing Perceptions of Another The purpose of this exercise is firstly to see how easy it is to project onto another person, And then secondly to see how we have the ability to change our mind or perspective about a person, So as to experience the highest in them. The exercise helps us get in touch with our basic beliefs about the world and people. It shows us how easy it is to project and how we decide what we believe is true. Sit opposite your partner, Make yourselves comfortable, As you will be sitting for about 15 minutes or so. You should be sitting face to face. This exercise is done in silence whilst maintaining eye contact. At the end of the exercise you can take time together to share how the experience was for you. I will be giving you some pairs of glasses which have different beliefs, And you will view your partner through these glasses, Believe in what the glasses say. I will tell you what these glasses are, What the different beliefs are. So first close your eyes, Take a moment to centre yourself. Take a few deep breaths. The first pair of glasses that you are going to put on says, This person likes me. Now open your eyes and look into the eyes of the person in front of you. Maintaining the eye contact, Silently say to yourself, This person likes me. This person likes me. Keep in the silence, Just note how your body is feeling. Are you relaxed with these glasses or is there some tension? Accept whatever you find. This person really likes being with me, Enjoys my company. How difficult is it to stay with this exercise, To flow with it? Do you feel yourself pulling away or are you enjoying it? This person really likes being with me, Really enjoys my company. Are you finding this difficult to believe? Are you uncomfortable with these glasses? Or are you feeling relaxed and happy? This person really likes me. Close your eyes now and take those glasses off. The next pair of glasses says, This person could be a problem to me. So you put these glasses on, Open your eyes and look into the eyes of your partner. And there you see a person who could be a problem to you, A difficulty in your life. This person knows a lot about me, Knows the things I feel guilty about and ashamed of. And they might even tell other people about these. This person could be a real problem to me. Note how your body is feeling. Are you relaxed? Are you tense? This person could be a real problem to me. Are these glasses easier to wear than the first pair? Or are they more difficult? Are these glasses more familiar to you? Are these the ones you wear more during the day? Or is it the first pair of glasses that you wear more? The glasses are beginning to get stronger. You realize this person could hurt you. You need to protect yourself about this person. How is the body feeling now? Is it difficult to stay with this exercise? Or is this a familiar feeling that you are used to? Now close your eyes and take those glasses off. The next pair of glasses says, This person has something creative, Fun and inspiring to teach me. Open your eyes and look into the eyes of your partner. And there is someone who can teach you to be creative, To take some fun, Who can inspire you. A wonderful teacher. They know exactly how to make you joyful. Perhaps you could see yourselves doing something together, Singing, Dancing, Creating something. How is your body feeling? Relaxed? Tense? This person has something creative, Fun and inspiring to teach me. Do you find it easy to stay with this exercise? Or do you want to pull out of it? How happy are you with these glasses? Now close your eyes and take these glasses off. And there is one last pair of glasses to wear. And these have very special properties, Powers. You can actually see beneath the personality of the person in front of you. You can go behind their ego, Behind the mask. So open your eyes and look into the eyes of the person in front of you. And as you look at the person, The general features of their face become less important. And you begin to focus more on their eyes. The importance of their sex, Their age falls away as you become more focused on the eyes. As you look into the eyes, You go beyond the mask of personality, Beyond culture, Beyond conditioning, Beyond the fears this person has. And you can see a light in the eyes. So focus on that light, Or the feeling of a light, Or the presence. As you become more aware of the light in that person's eyes, You realise it's familiar, There is the same light in you. The light you are experiencing, Your divinity is their divinity. The immortality you both share. The formless spirit is who you really are, And who your partner really is, An infinitely loving being. . . If it feels appropriate, Make some gentle contact with the other person, But continue to look into their eyes. Perhaps you may want to hold their hands. When you feel complete, Spend some time together, Sharing what this exercise meant for you.