Monday Madness

Tavia Robinson
1 day ago
2 min read

Monday Madness: The Power of Perception

“We do not see things as they are.

We see them as we are.”

— The Talmud

How do these words land for you today?

Pause for a moment. Free yourself from distractions:

Take a deep breath in… exhale slowly...

Again — in… and out...

One more time — in… and out...

Clear your mind and be present...

Now, check in with yourself:

How are you feeling today?

And perhaps a better question — how are you showing up?

In A Year of Living Consciously, Gay Hendricks offers an insight many of us overlook: we project.

Projection isn’t just a psychological term — it’s a leadership blind spot. It’s the unconscious act of transferring our inner emotions, assumptions, or beliefs onto others.

Hendricks uses a simple but powerful image:

Imagine a movie projector casting a picture on a screen fifty feet away. Now picture a small fly crawling across the light beam — suddenly, it appears magnified on the screen.

That fly is your mood.

A subtle internal shift — stress, fear, irritation, or even excitement — can distort the “movie” you see playing out in your relationships, your leadership, and your decision-making.

Reflection Prompt:

What are you projecting today — onto your team, your clients, or even yourself?

Today’s Challenge: Practice Conscious Awareness

Throughout your day, pause every hour and ask:

How is my current mood shaping how I’m perceiving this situation?
What might I be missing because of my internal state?
What would shift if I viewed this moment from a neutral or compassionate lens?

When we increase awareness of our state of being, we increase our capacity to lead with presence, empathy, and integrity.

Projection awareness transforms how we interpret feedback, resolve conflict, and build trust. The more consciously we engage, the less likely we are to let old patterns or fears dictate our reality.

Call to Action:

What are you willing to do differently today?