Do you like surprises? Many people don’t. I’m really not sure why………. Personally, I love surprises – all sorts.
Surprises can come in any form and be related to anything. Any ‘ah ha’ can be classified as a surprise because surprises, by definition, are unexpected. I think my favorite type of surprise is the understanding or appreciation surprise.
Understanding surprises are those insights that you either never considered previously or serendipitously happen. The ‘quality’ of the insight is really not relevant it’s the newness (to you) that is the focus. When you experience an understanding surprise then you discover that it provides you an increase in knowing the whys of the issue. I’ve always been an advocate of ‘what if’ so this is a growth that I would encourage.
However…. not all understandings are joyful. They are all enlightening but sometimes the knowing is sad. One should never insist that only happy understanding surprises are acceptable. Accepting is never really at issue in understanding – one may not like the understanding but if it is…. it is.
Appreciation surprises are closely related to understanding, but still are different. Again it’s not an issue of liking or disliking – if you appreciate, more than what you did prior to the surprise, then you are increased because of it. Like understanding surprises, accepting is never really at issue.
But… surprises can be fun. It’s your mindset. The more you are open to a surprise I suspect the more you will discover them.
