You cannot depend on your eyes when your imagination is out of focus.

What you see is shaped by what you expect, fear and hope. When imagination is distorted by anxiety, prejudice or wishful longing, even clear evidence gets misread, because the mind fills in details that are not there. Seeing accurately depends on keeping imagination in proportion.

When you feel certain about what you have witnessed, especially in an emotionally charged situation, pause and ask what you were expecting before you looked. Consider whether someone without your hopes or worries would see the same thing. Checking your perception against another person’s view can be surprisingly revealing.