Patterns of thinking and perceptions create images.  When meeting someone for the first or hundredth time, the mind automatically looks for patterns to fit into models that already exists in your mind.  For example, someone may remind you of a past supervisor who was demanding and critical.  By making this subconscious connection, you may automatically adopt a negative filter and when difficulty arises, you fall back to old negative assumptions and preconceived ideas about the person.

Mindfulness helps you to see these automatic filters and choose a different path.  Mindfulness holds space for an open and curious mindset.  When we embrace an open mind, we become more able to see wholeness in others.