When we are focused on task at hand, we do things for joy of doing them, and not because we expect anything in return for our action. When we do this, even small and seemingly insignificant things can become acts of joy and beauty.

You do not do things for end result. You do things for simple act of doing them. You do not wash dishes so you will have a clean kitchen. You wash dishes for art of washing dishes. When done in this way, dishes aren't something to be rushed through so you can go and do something else. It becomes a joyous event in itself. Your whole attitude changes, dishes are no longer a chore but become a joy.

In our romantic dinner scenario above, if all preparation had been done fully in present moment, day would have been spent joyously and not building up a fantasy of what evening was going to be like. So when your partner arrived home you would be happy and relaxed and not full of expectations, anticipation and demands that evening goes just as you planned.

Because you found joy in doing each task, as it needed to be done, and not rushed through them with your mind only on end result, you will not be devastated when your partner comes in and doesn't notice effort you have gone to. You will be far less likely to feel hurt and let down, you will still be able to enjoy meal yourself. Instead of being angry and bitter towards your partner you will be able to be supportive in their time of stress. Your partner will feel that you are there for them when they need you most.

When we live in world of daydreams, expectations and rushing through things, we tend to think that everything that happens revolves around us. We tend to take everything personally and get upset over things that really have nothing to do with us.

Whereas, if we can just learn to relax and enjoy moment for what it is, we will naturally become happier and more accepting and less demanding ourselves. We will be able to see other person's side of things and point of view, and this helps us to be more compassionate and understanding people.

Then something sneaky happens: scar is surreptitiously removed, and participant enters interview thinking scar is still visible.

Right after interview, in virtually every case, participant is full of all kinds of examples of how interviewer behaved negatively due to scar. When viewing a video showing interviewer only, participant can point to several incidents which seemed to him to indicate distaste or prejudice-- "See? He's staring at scar!” etc.

Even after being shown images that clearly indicate that scar was not visible, participant is likely to persist in his belief that interviewer was focusing on it.

We all have invisible scars (irrational beliefs) about way we are treated by others--and why. Our left brains are working overtime to reinforce our beliefs. We get so entangled in these thoughts that our entire view of ourselves and world is strangled by them.

By paying attention to language in our heads, we can learn to recognize beliefs that might be sabotaging us. Observing our thoughts gives us a chance to step back and see left brain in action.

Use mindfulness to see your invisible scars. Watch your knee-jerk responses whenever you feel slighted by someone, and look for list of rationales that your left brain has been crafting. Somewhere in there is kernel of your persistent belief.

Watch and listen. You don't have to be a neuroscience geek to find that fascinating.