You’re cruising down the highway, beginning to change lanes—when a car you never saw blares its horn. That’s the danger of a blind spot—and it’s not just on the road. Every one of us has unseen areas in our lives that can sideswipe our relationships, careers, and spiritual growth if we’re not careful.
We all have blind spots—areas where our perceptions, assumptions, or biases prevent us from seeing the full picture. Whether in personal relationships, work environments, or decision-making, these unseen limitations can hold us back from growth and success. Learning to recognize and address our blind spots is crucial for living a more authentic life and for better interactions with others.
What Are Blind Spots?
Blind spots are areas in our lives where we lack awareness—patterns of behavior, attitudes, or perspectives we can’t see clearly or at all. These areas are often visible to others but hidden from us. Just like a physical blind spot in a car, these mental and emotional blind spots can cause unintended consequences if left unchecked. They can limit our spiritual growth, damage relationships, and keep us from growing as a person.
For example, a manager might believe they are an excellent communicator, yet their team struggles to understand their instructions. A person might see themselves as open-minded yet repeatedly dismiss opinions that challenge their views. These are classic signs of blind spots in action.
Why Are Blind Spots Dangerous?
Blind spots can negatively affect decision-making, relationships, and leadership. If we remain unaware of them, we may:
- Make poor choices based on incomplete or biased information.
- Struggle with interpersonal conflicts due to misunderstandings.
- Limit our own growth by ignoring constructive feedback.
- Compromise our credibility and hurt our ability to impact the world.
- Hinder our spiritual growth and stay stuck in unhealthy cycles, unable to move deeper into maturity.
By identifying and addressing our blind spots, we can become more self-aware, adaptable, and effective in our personal and professional lives.
God’s Invitation
God doesn’t just suggest self-examination-He commands it as the pathway to growth, freedom, and deeper relationship with Him.
In Psalm 139:23–24, David prays, “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” This is more than a poetic plea—it’s a courageous invitation for God to expose the areas David couldn’t see on his own.
Similarly, in the New Testament, Paul exhorts believers to “Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves” (2 Corinthians 13:5). The Christian walk is not passive; it demands a willingness to confront the unseen corners of our hearts, especially the ones that make us uncomfortable.
The Pharisees of Jesus’ day are a prime example. They were deeply religious and yet spiritually blind. Jesus often rebuked them, saying, “You blind guides!… You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence” (Matthew 23:24–25). Their inability to see their own hearts led them to miss the very heart of the gospel.
If we aren’t careful, we can fall into the same trap—polishing the surface of our lives while leaving the deeper places untouched.
The Johari Window
The Johari Window was developed by two psychologists in the 1950’s to illustrate how blind spots work. It is made up of four quadrants: 1) The open area known to yourself and others. 2) A blind area which others can see but you cannot. 3) The hidden area known to you but hidden from others. 4) The unknown area of your life not seen by yourself or others. Take a look at the illustration below:
In general, it is healthy to work at increasing the open area of your life. To know yourself well and to be open with others is venturing to live your life in the most open and authentic manner possible… to be the same person at work, home,church, with friends etc.
How to Overcome Blind Spots
- Seek God’s Illumination: The Holy Spirit is our helper and guide. Regular prayer and time in Scripture open us up to God’s truth. Ask Him to show you what you cannot see. He is faithful to reveal and to heal.
- Invite Honest Feedback: God often uses other people to shine a light on our blind spots. Trusted friends, mentors, and spiritual leaders can offer loving truth that we may miss. It takes humility to listen without defensiveness, but Proverbs reminds us, “Wounds from a friend can be trusted” (Proverbs 27:6).
- Practice Humility: Overcoming blind spots requires a heart that is teachable. James 4:6 says, “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.” When we admit we don’t have it all figured out, we position ourselves for growth.
- Embrace the Process: Self-awareness is not a one-time event—it’s a lifelong journey. Don’t be discouraged when you uncover an area that needs serious work. Every revelation is an invitation for God’s grace to sink deeper into your life. He’s committed to completing the good work He began in you (Philippians 1:6).
- Counseling: Sometimes it helps to have a skilled guide. Seeing a therapist is a great way to take positive steps in self-reflection, discovering blind spots and living a more open, healthy and authentic life. The counselors at Renewing Life are always here to help. If you would like to make an appointment you can give us a call at 702 434-7290.
Mark Whelchel, M.S., LMFT