The journey to discover my blind spots

Are you aware of your blind spots?

You know, those parts of your identity or life that are present yet unseen. Kinda like spinach caught in your teeth that only other people can see.

I was exploring this theme recently while recording my latest YouTube video about coming to terms with my queer identity. Watch it here.

I realised that being gay was my first experience of a blind spot. The signs were obvious yet I told myself convincing stories to deny it. The mind is good like that.

But the truth is that we all have blind spots. Thinking you don’t have them is an example of one 😉

They can trip us up in our relationships, decisions and personal growth:

Emotional blind spots are feelings we don’t recognize in ourselves. Perhaps jealousy or anger.
Behavioral blind spots are habits we might not notice. Like self-soothing through shopping.
And cognitive blind spots are the biases in our thinking we haven’t yet spotted. For example, our propensity to hire people that look and sound like us.

Fortunately, there are a few things you can do to identify blind spots.

First, ask for honest feedback from people you trust – and really listen to what they say. I sent round a survey to 10 friends and family recently (more on that another time).

Chatting with a therapist or coach can also give you a fresh, unbiased perspective.

Next, take the time to journal regularly and review what you write. Over time you will start to become aware of repeating patterns.

Last, step outside your comfort zone and do something you normally dismiss. If you start to feel uncomfortable or resistant, that might just be a blind spot you’re encountering.

Remember, recognising and addressing our blind spots is an ongoing adventure. It’s all about peeling back the layers to reveal who we truly are.

To learn more about my journey to discover my blind spots in my coming out journey, watch the full video here.