Seeing Beyond the Surface

 

In today’s information-saturated and fast-changing world, insight—the ability to see the essence of things—is vital not only for problem-solving, decision-making, and value creation, but also for building good relationships and fostering personal growth. A closely related word is observation. Observation means “carefully looking at what is visible,” while insight means “seeing through to what is invisible.” In this sense, observation forms the foundation of insight. People with strong powers of observation are curious, actively gather information, and can view facts from multiple angles without being trapped by preconceptions. They are also flexible enough to notice subtle changes. Those with deep insight use what they observe to think critically and persistently ask “why,” uncovering structures, causal relationships, and underlying truths. Such observation and insight are essential for living wisely and independently in today’s complex society. Therefore, it is crucial that we cultivate these abilities ourselves, rather than relying solely on the mixed outcomes of others’ observations and insights.

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