We see what we look for, and nowhere was that more apparent than when I re-watched the Ted Lasso series. On my original viewing, there was a big surprise at the end of the second season. But when I watched the show again, I saw numerous clues throughout the first two seasons that foreshadowed what occurred. It wasn’t a surprise at all the second time around. In fact, it was surprising to me that it was a surprise the first time because there were so many hints that this may occur.
It got me wondering what we miss in real life — things that are almost predicted, yet ignored because they don’t fit with your current worldview or opinion of someone. Are there signs around you about a possible job layoff or firing that you are brushing off? Or a relationship break that is about to occur but you don’t want to acknowledge it? Or maybe your business or finances are trending downward in a precipitous way that you dismiss as temporary instead of addressing them?
Among the many lessons that Ted Lasso has taught me, add to the list “paying attention to those nagging disconnects that I want to overlook.” We’d be faced with a lot fewer surprises and rarely be blindsided if we did.
