30 In 30: Perspective is Everything
As Byron Katie says, “Don’t believe everything you think.” So how do we change the way we see things?
It’s part of the human condition that we come upon challenging moments when it feels as though the people in our lives, even life itself, are beating us down. Maybe it’s a specific situation or relationship that wearing us thin. But, the first step in deciding what to do with something is choosing how to be with it. Perspective can be defined as “the interrelation in which a subject—or its parts—is viewed in its context.”
So how do we change our perspective?:
First, think about changing your geography. Changing our external environment can shift our internal landscape. We may not be able to take that trip to Aruba right now, but sometimes you have to get away from where you are, even if it’s just for a minute. Step away from your desk, allow yourself to daydream. Moving your body to a different location and adding that physical element of movement truly draws energy from the mind to the body. Break up patterns for a new perspective.
Another way to see things differently is to try to see through someone else’s eyes. We all have people we admire. When we are struggling with a situation of our own, it could be a good thing to try to see it through the eyes of someone else. Asking “What would___ do?” could help us shift our thinking.
One of the best ways to change the way we see things is to focus on the big picture. When we’re in the furnace, all we feel is the heat. Take a moment to breathe and ask, “How does this moment fit in the grand scheme of things? What am I learning? What is being challenged?”
Sometimes a change in perspective is exactly what we are looking for.
JustDream
