Recognition: What does it mean to you? We all have a desire for recognition in some way – but what about the way that you provide it to others?

Think about a time or an event – maybe it was a ride on the subway, or a meeting at Starbucks. Did you really recognize the person right in front of you?

Only as we remember the “event” (a past conversation, a chance encounter, a ride on a plane) considering the past in our minds’ eye, do we really seem to see what’s going on with our listener.

Thinking about the “who” in front of you doesn’t have to be an elaborate process. Remember that person that you saw at breakfast, or your friend that you met for lunch yesterday. What was their mood? How did they seem to be doing? Rarely does anyone answer, “I have no idea!”

Recognition is an important talent  - and one that we all possess

Each of us has the ability to reflect and consider the person (or people) we are speaking to – yet we rarely use it. While some have higher abilities to empathize than others (also called an “EQ” or emotional intelligence), we all have the ability to recognize our surroundings.

My question for you is: how often do you use your “super-powers” of human perception?

(Those moments are free, by the way, so take as many as you need!)

Have you stopped to consider how you can let someone know that they are important to you?
We are all dominated by other thoughts, issues, concerns and a self-absorbed nature (“What’s in it for me?” is universal). That self-centered focus causes us to rarely reflect on what we all see and hear.

Yet, everyone is wired to observe and report – we can always tune in to other folks, if we choose to.  The first step in creating an authentic connection is by really recognizing the person that’s right in front of your face.

Most of the time we are so focused on what’s next that we forget about who’s here.

Main photo courtesy of Pink Sherbet Photography.  Used under creative commons, some rights reserved.