I’m sure most of you have played the I’m-looking-at-you-but-not-really-looking-at-you game with a stranger. You know, your eyes meet and then you (or said creeper) hurriedly looks away. Your eyes meet again and you look away again. Now you’re creepy. It happens yet another time. Congratulations! You’re now a major creeper and they just know you’re undressing them with your eyes — or is it the other way around? Hmmm. Your gaze may meet theirs once more -or if you’re feeling bold- a few more times until one of you decide you’ve had enough.
In the novel The Celestine Prophecy, James Redfield says it’s not a coinkidink, nor are you creepy. Deep exhale! (Unless you are really a creep.) So what does it mean? I found the following summary with a simple Google search:
“Sudden, spontaneous eye contact or a sense or recognition indicates the two people involved should talk. Such recognition indicates that person is in a similar ‘thought group’ as yourself and that one or both of you have information which needs to be exchanged.” (http://www.spirit-web.org/mysteries/occult/the-9-insights-of-the-celestine-prophecy)
Well that’s bizarre. Sounds like some new age-y crapola, right? Well whatever your opinion, I hereby request you open your mind for a few minutes. Let’s pretend it’s true. What if, instead of looking away for the 6th time, you become consciously aware of the unconscious interest? After all, you’re playing the I’m-looking-at-you-but-not-really-looking-at-you game because something within you is curious about the other and likely, vice-versa. What could be possible if you march up to said stranger/creeper and strike up a conversation? Ok, let’s make a list because really, who doesn’t like a list?
(a) be labeled a creep and be instantly rejected
(b) be entertained for a bit and still be dismissed as a creeper
(c) be entertained and exchange some non-essential info, never speaking again
(d) score a date (where are all my optimists at?!? whoop! whoop!)
(d) become engaged in a conversation where info comes up that is so “coincidental” it’s freaky. Freaky in a good way. No not that way — minds out of the gutter please!
(e) insert any plausible option I failed to mention
One Saturday in September I went to an observation session of the coach training program I was considering joining next year. During the session my eyes kept meeting the eyes of a gentleman who was intermittently working a video camera (the observation was a recorded session for teaching purposes). I played the I’m-looking-at-you-but-not-really-looking-at-you game and felt like a huge weirdo. However, I was consciously aware that something in me was curious. What the hell that meant I didn’t know. My mind labeled it crazy and I kept on keepin’ on with the observation. At the end, the people observing each took a turn to speak. We introduced ourselves and stated why we were present, adding anything else we wanted to share. When it was my turn I mentioned that my spirituality was (and is) a priority in my life. After I spoke, my fellow game player spoke up. Enter Dave. Dave’s coaching practice has spirituality infused into it because the spiritual path was his natural progression in life. I smiled, realizing the connection. A few other observers went on to share after that. At the very end, the host and hostess announced there was a free coaching session offered with anyone in the room. Zing! There it was again. I marched up to Dave and told him I was interested in the free session with him. We exchanged info and set up the call.
The rest is history. I was already toying with the idea of hiring a coach. I hired Dave as my coach at the end of the first call because my inner guide told me to do so before hanging up. I’d wanted to make a shift but would always become scared, remain stuck, bitch and moan, rinse and repeat. This had been going on for three years. I wanted to get some accountability action going on. Dave and I vibe. I look forward to his probing questions and support each week. I curse, he curses. I freak out, he reminds me to center before speaking further. I’m vulnerable and he acknowledges my courage, integrity, or whatever rock-star quality I exhibited by examining my fears that week.
So what am I babbling about? It’s simple, really. Get out of your comfort zone. Expand. Talk to creepy people. Be the creepy person. Life is full of infinite possibilities if you are open. I’m saying this because it’s the advice I need to hear. As Richard Bach said, “We teach best what we most need to learn.”
So here I am, living and sharing.
