As I stared into the fancy machine during a recent trip to my eye doctor, I was instructed by the technician to “hold my blink” as she performed her test.
So I held my blink. I kept my eyes closed.
Which was immediately met with a disapproving sigh from the technician.
At first I got defensive. Thinking to myself, I did what she asked. I held my blink.
Then I got curious. Thinking to myself, what the hell does it mean to “hold your blink”?
We clearly weren’t speaking the same language.
I was instructed again to hold my blink but this time I asked, “does hold your blink mean keep your eye open?”
The technician smiled and yes.
I said, “got it”.
And then held my blink five more times without another disapproving sigh to be heard.
It’s amazing how fast you can accomplish a goal when you are speaking the same language as the person you are working with.
PS – in a non-scientific research study I performed with family and friends, I asked..
“If you were asked to hold your blink, would you keep your eye open or closed?”
The results are:
- 60% = open
- 40% = closed
What would you have done?