The eyes are consistently viewed as the telling of truth. Our eyes are crucial in social relationships, as well as our work relationships. Eyes reveal truth, even when the mouth hides from it. That’s the reality of it. Covering the eyes, can mean a few things. It can mean that one doesn’t want their inner truth revealed. Afraid of one’s vulnerabilities to be exposed, in developing trustworthy relationships. Or, it means that one does not want something revealed. Either way, when looking into someone’s ask, and their gaze meets ours, there is a sense of trust, arising. Sometimes, this is not taken as seriously in the workforce, or social arenas. Yet, it is so very important in creating healthy work spaces and social interactions.
She is one of the most celebrated, and memorable actresses of Hollywood’s Classical age. And yet, her eyes told stories. Her eyes conveyed of honesty. Her eyes, and the energies behind them, invited you to explore her professional journey, right beside her. Lauren Bacall clearly had no problem in revealing her own. . .inner truth. In the field of acting, and filmmaking, She showed the significance of looking into a person’s eyes, and allowing them to look into yours. Whether that was through her characters, filmmakers, directors, photographers, or whomever she worked with, it is obvious that her gaze set the foundation for how her career would allow her to maneuver through the film industry. It set the tone for engagement and trust. Healthy connections between herself, and whomever she had to engage with.
Lauren Bacall allowed us in! How we interpreted her gazes, are left up to the audience. Leaving us to question, and analyze our own perceptions. Nevertheless, through her eyes, she revealed herself. She was that courageous to do so! It doesn’t matter what was going on in her life. Her shortcomings, fears, challenges, or own vulnerabilities. That’s the beauty of it all!
She played different characters, and made them believable. People, who we could recall, or reminesce on. And, yet, her eyes never changed. They were always willing to guide, and force us to address our own complexities. Through her gaze, she was not afraid to form healthy engagements. That was the wonder of her career! She let us in.
When a person opens their eyes, and opens them to you, are they letting you take a journey into who they are? Who are they as a person? That’s the element of it. That’s the nature of learning the true essence of a person. Do they let you in? When a person permits your gaze, does it strengthen your interaction and production with them? How time is nourished, treasured, and catered to? What is the deeper purpose in the showing of their eyes? When you see their eyes, do you find yourself relieved? Do you find yourself connected to experiencing a greater connection of trust? Motivated to work better? Overcome barriers? Accomplish a more challenging task?
Does a colleague’s energy complement you in where you want to go, professionally?
A person’s eyes are more than just for beauty or show. The beauty of eye engagement, or the gaze, is that it should lead you to wisdom and knowledge. Overcoming boundaries. Breaking communication barriers in the workplace. When you look into a person’s eyes, do they confirm being able to go to greater heights with you, in your production? Do they connect you with supportive personnel who support you in your perspective field ? Are they really on your side?
Or, is a person’s gaze one of envy, jealousy, misuse, exploitation, or unhealthy forms of competition in the workplace, or social realm? We can even add misuse in wanting someone to “fill in a void,” or make oneself feel better, rather than building their own existence for completion. Riding on someone else’s clout, rather than compelling themselves to be better.
One of the aesthetics about Lauren Bacall, and her work, is that acting gave her the versatility needed, in order for us to really, see her. There are different connections, different meanings of her gazes. When we look at each one of them, we can stop to ponder. What is she thinking? Where is she trying to lead us? What is she trying to teach us? Different characters come alive, through these gazes. Her photos, alone, are spaces of artistry. Our minds become challenged. Her truths lead us into lessons and mastery of her field; often ones we are trying to grapple with, in our own. . .inner truths.
That’s the beauty of those Lauren Bacall-type gazes! Their eyes are beautiful, so that we can be compelled to greater heights in our professional realms. Yet, in order to see that, we have to be willing to connect with our own greatness and vision. Going into a rich canvas, of ourselves, that we never explored. Never knew existed! Their eyes are part of that journey of self-confidence, that many of us will soon have to take. That truth seeking journey of self realization. A desire to reach the next level in our fields or career. Pushing ourselves to go beyond. Then again, do we believe we can do it? We all have to go through it. Its only that their eyes make that journey. . .more obvious!
Each photo of our beloved, Lauren Bacall, reveals a deeper meaning about, who we are. Each image, and its gaze, forces us to examine how we are to see and access our current state of successes and failures. We are connected to her, and we realize that, by that very look. When we look, Bacall looks back. Its a challenge. Demanding that we go on a solo path, in assessing if we have given our very best. That inner truth may not be pretty. In fact, we may not even be aware of the ugliness, surrounding it. Are we content with who, and where, we are, professionally? Have we created a foundation of truth telling in the workplace? However, the eyes see the realities They know even if we don’t. Even if we cover them up, the eyes don’t lie.
The richness of Lauren Bacall’s gaze, reminds us of the true purpose of a person’s gaze. It is for an invitation to. . .truth! It invites you in, bringing you to the point of being able to heal. By inviting us into her mirrors, she is giving us the opportunity to take a look at ourselves. We can take this same lesson into our work and social environments. What messages are we sending when we make it a priority to engage with our colleagues and supervisors, through the eyes? How does it establish auras of trust in the workplace? Do we accept our mirrors, and the visions that they give to, ourselves? Do we like what we see, when we journey into the truth of our personal and professional Being? Do we see a need for improvement? If we observe the need for change, then how do we elevate to that next level, in order to feel complete? Feeling that we are going to where our destiny foretells. Even greater is knowing that we are being supported, with that right energy, along the way. That’s the real treasure in a person’s gaze. For it gives meaning to one’s visionary truth!