Change Of Perspective

Shift your perspective

The Dalai Lama states that shifting your perspective is not only a way to achieve happiness (perhaps the true goal of life) but is a way to overcome all of life’s obstacles. For instance, looking at things from a wider view will make an apparent problem seem much smaller than it is. In reverse, focusing on an issue or feeling can help discover solutions that you didn’t know existed. So, if you have trouble accepting something, try shifting your perspective. The world looks substantially different from a 1000 feet above the ground.

Why do you feel that way?

Put simply, it’s about belief and emotion. Is the world gentle or hostile, flood or drought, hot or cold, happy or sad, filled with misery or joy? It’s all of those things. Just because you can’t see it doesn’t mean it isn’t there.

You may have heard of the expression “put yourself in the other persons shoes” time and time again but have you ever actually practiced it. Imagine this scenario – everyone in the world is right handed (or so it seems) except you. You are left handed and you want to tell everyone that you are left handed. Wow! How would you feel? Scared, embarrassed, ashamed and confused. You would be devastated. Especially, if you were unable to tell anyone for fear that you would be estranged from the world (after all we all need to connect).

What if you told your friends and family and they rejected you? Seems a bit odd, doesn’t it? Maybe they don’t like left handed people but it doesn’t mean they shouldn’t like you. I don’t like it when people get angry but I still love the people that get angry at me. I don’t like trees being clear cut and forests destroyed, but I still have wooden furniture. Okay, you get the point, it is important to change your perspective.

How do you change your point of view?

No straightforward solution will get you there. There are however, techniques and things you can do to help get there. Remaining an observer, instead of making judgment is a good start and helps you refrain from analysis. You have an option in life to be optimistic and to change your perception. You can expand your horizons by:

• turning a disadvantage into an advantage
• being grateful for what you have
• looking for hope
• ask a different question – more narrow or broad
• look at prevention versus cure

What solution would someone else put in place?

Albert Einstein said “We can’t solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them”. Ahhhhh! So change is the key. Try this instead. If you are coming up with the same views or problems, look a little further (step back). See what solution someone else has put in place and figure out how you can emulate the result. Perspective is key. If you are too narrow to look at a different one than the change will never come. You may have heard of Tim Ferriss and the 4 Hour Work week it is all about perspective. The doubters resist, but the true changers in society embrace change and shift their perspective. Which one are you?

if you liked this post, take a gander at these ones!

• climate change is up to you – climate change conference 2009
• keeping your readers’ attention – why less is more
• Change Your Life – Part II
• how to create change
• Definition of Going Green