Perspective

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Perspective

A person’s perspective provides their worldview. Looking at the world from the bottom of a well provides a very different view than looking from the top of a mountain. While these are two very different extremes the subtler differences can create as much disparity.

Becoming aware of your own perspective can inform you about how your worldview influences your actions and emotions. The obvious one is that of optimist versus pessimist. Which way do you lean in your interactions with the world? How would it be different if you switched that view?

Most of us set some type of goals at the beginning of each year. Whether we consider them resolutions or plans for the future, they drive the choices we make at least for a while. Perhaps it’s getting more exercise, eating healthier, taking more time for relaxation, or spending time with family. Whatever the goal, our perspective has an influence on how well we meet these goals.

A truncated view of the possibilities usually leads to limited success in our plans. Being able to have an expansive perspective allows us to shift the path as needed to meet our goals. Think of a time you had a goal and something got in the way. Were you able to shift with this obstacle or did you fold? What might have been different if you’d found a way around that obstacle? This is not an exercise in self-judgment. It is a way to see that just as water will find a way around a boulder, human beings can find a way around the obstacle in our paths. The key is perspective and flexibility.

If John is standing on the flat area and wants to ride his bike from home to his friend Ben’s house and sees that there is a wall between them he might decide that it’s not possible to get there on his bike. If Judy is standing on a hill and looking between those two houses, she might see that there is a way around the wall that might take longer and will connect the two on a different path. It’s all about perspective.

What plans do you have? Is there a way to see a broader view when you come upon an obstacle? Exploring the possibilities may lead to the gold of a greater outcome than you envisioned initially.

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“Life is a series of natural and spontaneous changes. Don’t resist them—that only creates sorrow. Let reality be reality. Let things flow naturally forward in whatever way they like.” —Lao Tzu It is often said that the only constant in life is change. In my nearly seven decades on this earth, I can attest that changes come whether we’re prepared or not. One of the most frustrating aspects of change is that most of the time we aren’t in charge of where, when, or how it happens. Of course, there are changes that we initiate. Even those don’t always go off without a hitch. Taking the time to look at the changes that are occurring with fresh eyes can make a huge difference in how we relate to that change. The lens through which we are looking at any given point in time determines what we see. Everything we see is interpreted through our past experiences, expectations, and desires. If we remember the story of the Taoist farmer it can assist in handling the events of our lives, welcome or not. It is only in hindsight that we can be aware of the real impact of any change that had occurred. Think about the fish surrounded by water, it is to some extent oblivious to the water because it is immersed in it. Likewise, when we are in the midst of change, we often can’t see beyond the immediate situation. When we take a step back and allow ourselves to look at the big picture, it often looks much different. One of my teachers in acupuncture school, John Sullivan, told us that there are two ways of looking at a situation, small mind or large mind. Small mind looks at the world through a narrow lens and is unwilling or unable to see beyond that lens. Large mind allows for more of a vista view, thereby providing a sense of the greater possibilities and how the situation impacts us and others. As Dr. Sullivan would repeat to us, “Choose Large Mind.” Is there a situation in your life now that large mind would benefit? If so, how will you apply this philosophy to it? What would be different if you did?