When the Lens is Cracked, Even the Sun Looks Dangerous!

“When the lens is cracked, even the sun looks dangerous.”

I said this to a friend earlier this week after she shared a frustrating experience with someone we both know. On the surface, this person’s reaction to a simple disagreement seemed extreme—but as we peeled back the layers, something became clear. I told my friend, “She’s viewing the world through broken lenses.”

This woman had been through deep trauma—some of which she’s shared publicly. Though she says she’s healed, I believe there’s still healing left to do. Her behaviour made more sense when I considered her past. And while I don’t agree with how she often reacts, I also understand where it’s coming from.

The truth is, she’s not alone. Many of us are still viewing the world through broken lenses, shaped by pain, betrayal, or fear. And we need to talk about it.

How Broken Lenses Are Formed

Trauma, especially the kind we don’t fully process, doesn’t just hurt us in the moment—it reshapes our perception. All it takes is a trigger to show us that healing is never finished; it’s an ongoing process.

Years ago, someone I knew was in a relationship with a man who lied about nearly everything. He deceived her about his marital status, about his intentions, and even about the other woman involved—claiming their marriage was just a tactic for immigration.

She believed him. She fell in love with him. And when the truth slowly emerged, it didn’t just break her heart—it distorted her worldview. For years, I heard how that betrayal turned into resentment—not just toward him, but toward women like his ex, who reminded her of the pain.

She couldn’t yet see that they were both victims of the same man’s manipulation.

Over a decade passed before she started to shift her perspective. But in that time, countless opportunities to build love and connection were lost. Her lens had been shaped by lies, and it took years to realise just how much it had narrowed her view.

What About You?

Have you ever seen someone—or yourself—differently after time, healing, or truth changed the view?

Have you ever had a parent tell you not to chase a dream simply because it didn’t work out for them?

For years, I struggled to receive compliments. Someone I admired would shower people with praise—then tear them apart behind their backs. It shaped how I saw affirmations. I became awkward, dismissive, unsure of how to respond. That was me, seeing the world through the lens of a cruel adult who modelled insincerity.

This happens more often than we admit.

Trauma distorts, filters, or limits how we see the world.

The child who was never allowed to speak up becomes the adult who takes disagreement as rejection.

The person who was abused by someone who once seemed kind starts to see all kindness as a trap.

The woman who was deeply hurt by a man she trusted now sees all men through that lens—and it’s not her fault. She’s protecting herself from pain.

Even being unsupported at work can shape your lens. Repeated dismissal makes you stop trying, stop sharing ideas. We don’t talk about that enough—but a lack of support is a trauma of its own.

Your Lens Might Need Updating

Just as I eventually learned to receive compliments, you can learn to see clearly again too.

I had to remind myself that not everyone is two-faced, and not every kind word is followed by cruelty. That took time.

Think of your worldview like prescription glasses. Every few years, you’re meant to have your eyes re-checked. Are the lenses still serving you—or are they now distorting what’s real?

The same goes for emotional lenses. Life changes. We grow. We’re meant to reassess.

Have your experiences shaped you for the better—or are they narrowing your ability to see the good around you?

Three Reflection Prompts

I invite you to journal, pray, meditate, or sit quietly with these:

1. What lens am I seeing my world through—and who gave it to me?
2. What have I mistaken for truth because pain taught it to me?
3. What would the world look like if I saw it through healing instead of fear?

Final Thoughts

My friend, the one I spoke to earlier this week, was exasperated—and I get it. It’s hard when someone takes a disagreement personally, especially when you’re just expressing a different view.

She chose to quietly walk away from that conversation. And honestly? That’s okay too. Some people aren’t ready to see through a different lens. We’re all a work in progress.

But as we move through life—through pain, through healing, through shared experience—may we learn to choose grace and compassion.

And when necessary, may we also have the courage to clean our lenses.

Thank you for reading, for reflecting, and for sharing.

Let’s effect the change we need by being brave enough to share our stories—and gentle enough to listen to others’.