“O would some power the gift to give us, to see ourselves as others see us!”

“…O wad some Power the giftie gie us
To see oursels as ithers see us!
It wad frae monie a blunder free us… “

~ Robert Burns, 
   poet laureate of Scotland (1759-1796)

To gain (or retain) perspective on ourselves is a valuable gift. While our sense of self should always be anchored deep within, it is also valuable to have the benefit of an unbiased point of view, of someone without an agenda. This is one of the benefits of a mentor or career coach or counselor.

Seek out those honest persons who will give you their blunt, frank opinion when the occasion requires. If they have good intentions and an intelligent perspective (avoid universal naysayers), it will be of great benefit to you.

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While the above lines by Robert Burns are well known, the context is less known. One Sunday, Burns sat behind a lady during worship service and chanced to spy a head louse wandering the “gauze and lace” of her bonnet. From that occasion came the poem “To a Louse” (yes, that is the name!) from which the above quote is taken.