The Self-Awareness Equation: A Story About Perception and Awareness

I once heard a story about a math teacher standing in front of a classroom, writing out ten problems on the board.

Quietly, deliberately, the teacher solves each one—except for the last. One answer is incorrect.

The room erupts in laughter. Students point. Giggle. Whisper. All focused on that single mistake.

The teacher turns, unfazed.

“You all noticed the one I got wrong,” they say calmly. “But none of you pointed out the nine I got right. What does that tell you about what you're noticing for?”

A moment of silence. The lesson lands—but it’s not about math.

🧠 Noticing for the Wrong Things

Most people are tuned to see what’s broken. What’s flawed. What doesn’t go their way. Especially on social media, where outrage travels faster than appreciation.

And it’s not that gratitude isn’t possible. It’s just that noticing the good requires intention. Awareness. Effort. It’s easier to point at the one wrong thing than to honor the nine things that went right.

🚫 Don't Take It Personally

That’s the twist. If you’re doing your best—creating, building, sharing—and someone fixates on the flaw, the mistake, the shadow in your light... don’t let it cut deeper than it should.

Because most people aren't noticing for the whole picture. They're noticing for the crack. And that’s not your responsibility to fix. It’s theirs to reflect on.

🌱 Keep Building

You don’t need validation from those who only show up to inspect. You don’t need praise from those who’ve trained themselves to sort for disappointment.

Just keep writing the board. Problem by problem. Truth by truth.

Mistakes will happen. Let them.

Because the ones who are truly paying attention? They'll see the nine you got right.

And that’s more than enough.