When you face circumstances you don’t enjoy or problems you can’t readily solve, Jamie Spannhake says it can be helpful to shift perspective.
Key Takeaways
- Perspective is everything: Our perspective is the filter through which we see the world, our emotions, thoughts and actions. By changing our perspective we can turn challenges into opportunities and grow personally and be better overall.
- Change for new insights: Making small changes in your daily life, like taking a different route to work or trying something new, can open your mind to new possibilities and perspectives. This can lead to creative solutions and a more positive outlook.
- See it from others viewpoint: Understanding and respecting other people’s viewpoints can strengthen relationships and help us understand more situations. By seeing it from others we can have more harmony and find solutions for everyone.
When you face situations you don’t enjoy or problems you can’t readily solve, it is helpful to embrace a perspective shift. Shifting your perspective can allow you to focus on the good, elevate your mood and bring you to new creative solutions. You shift perspective by thinking or doing something differently to change yourself, your situation or others.
Here are five ways.
1. Think “I Get To” Instead of “I Have To” in the Present Moment
Sometimes when I am feeling overwhelmed by life’s responsibilities, they all seem like weighty obligations: I have to prepare breakfast for my daughter. I have to walk the dogs. I have to call clients. I have to draft papers and negotiate a settlement. There are so many things I “have to” do. Truth be told, some of those things may not be necessary, or at least not necessary for me to do. But even when I am the one who must do them, I can change my words to shift my perspective and gain a different perspective.
- I get to prepare breakfast for my daughter and spend some time with her while we eat.
- I get to walk the dogs and see how eager they are to sniff around.
- I get to call clients in order to help them (or at the very least, to earn income).
- I get to draft papers so that I can advocate and make persuasive arguments.
- I get to negotiate a settlement, which can be an interesting experience and provide clients with much-needed resolution.
When you think about all the tasks you “have to” do today, change your words and see how much better you feel. Considering other people’s opinions can also help you see these tasks from a new angle and appreciate their value.
The same situation can feel entirely different depending on how you frame it. By shifting your perspective, you can transform obligations into opportunities.all the tasks you “have to” do today, change your words and see how much better you feel.
2. Shifting Perspectives, Change Something Small
When things are not going as well as you would like, change something. Write out all the possibilities to explore a wide range of solutions. Start with something small, like driving a different route to work or trying a new restaurant for lunch. The change doesn’t need to be related to the problem. Simply doing something differently will allow your mind to open to other possibilities. Eventually, you can move on to changing bigger things that have a more direct impact on the problematic issue.
3. Use “What I Like About It Is …”
Use this phrase when things are not good, and no matter how much you change or rephrase, they don’t get better. When you’re in a bad mood, your emotional state can influence how you perceive external events. Your computer crashed and you lost the first draft of your brief? “What I like about it is … I can upgrade to a new, faster computer.”
It doesn’t solve the problem, but at least you can find one positive thing to focus on while you deal with solving the problem.
4. Consider Other People’s Opinions
When dealing with difficult people, it can be helpful to consider their perspective. Think about where they are emotionally. They might feel hurt due to their interpretation of social interactions or personal emotions. Consider what challenges they are facing. Contemplate the business decisions they are considering. This is particularly useful when trying to negotiate or reach a resolution to a contentious problem. Once we understand the other person’s motivation and concerns, we can “soften” our response if that is appropriate, or we can craft solutions that work for ourselves and our client and simultaneously address the other person’s concerns.
5. React Unusually
If you don’t like the way things are going, react unusually — that is, don’t keep doing the same things in response to the same issues. Instead, do something unusual. Creating things can often shift your perspective, unlocking new possibilities and enhancing creativity. Perhaps every time you speak with opposing counsel on the phone, he yells at you and you become annoyed because of his preposterous rhetoric, which leads to a heated argument between you. Next time: React differently. Maybe excuse yourself from the call and contact him after you have calmed down. Maybe remain silent and write down everything he is saying. The point is to create a break in your actions and thoughts to provide an opportunity for things to move forward differently.
As Henry David Thoreau said, “It’s not what you look at that matters; it’s what you see.” Shift your perspective to see life in a way that is better for you.
Perspective is Everything: Additional Thoughts
Perspective is the filter through which we see the world, our experiences, relationships and challenges. It’s shaped by our past, beliefs and values and can either empower us or hold us back. By understanding the power of perspective we can learn to shift our view and unlock new possibilities in our lives.
Shifting perspective is a powerful tool for personal growth.
When we change our perspective we can see things from multiple angles, consider different views and gain new insights. We can overcome obstacles, build stronger relationships and achieve our goals. By learning to shift our perspective we can take control of our own life and create the reality we want.
In life, our perspective can make all the difference.
For example when faced with a tough situation we can choose to see it as an opportunity or a threat to our well being. Our perspective can control our emotions, thoughts and actions and can make the situation easy or hard. By being aware of our perspective and learning to shift it we can navigate life’s challenges and have a better experience.
Our perspective can impact our relationships with others.
When we consider others opinions and perspectives we can build stronger connections and deeper understanding. By being open to multiple perspectives we can learn from others, gain new insights and create a more harmonious and supportive community.
Our perspective can impact our physical and emotional well being.
When we’re stuck in a negative perspective our body feels tense and our nervous system is on high alert. We feel anxious, stressed and burnt out. When we shift our perspective to a more positive and empowering one our body relaxes and our nervous system calms down. We feel calm, clear and well.
Perspective is key to personal growth, relationships and overall well being.
By shifting our perspective we can create new possibilities, overcome obstacles and achieve our goals. By being aware of our perspective and its impact on our daily life we can take control of our own life and create the reality we want.
