We do tend to become "scripted" to see things a certain way, hear what we expect to hear, respond in the same way we have repeatedly done so in the past. And we can get stuck in that kind of in-the-box thinking.

A "riddle" I do to illustrate this point with people in workshops is to hold up three coins - a penny, a nickel and a quarter. Then I tell them I'm going to ask them a question and use the coins to help me illustrate what I'm saying. The riddle goes like this: "Johnny's Mom has three kids. (holding up the penny) The first child's name is Penny. (holding up the nickel) The second child's name is Nicholas. (holding up the quarter) What's the thrid child's name?"

Sometimes I have to say the opening line 3 or 4 times before some folks (like ME the first time I heard it) will get that the 3rd kid's name is Johnny. ~Rose