The Strategy of Perspective
“If you change the way you look at things, the things you look at will change.”
- Dr. Wayne Dyer
Your perspective is simply your point of mental view. It is the interrelation in which a subject or its parts are rendered. The way you see a thing is a way you live the thing. Perspective gives the capacity and clarity to observe with true relation or relative importance.
We have the ability to change the results by changing our assumptions based on faulty perspectives. It is our nature to function through our perspective. Therefore, if our perspective is off, our results are off as well! Each aspect of our lives is composed of its strengths and weaknesses. How you handle what you perceive is critical to your daily living. The dramatic events that have previously taken place in our lives usually have the most significant impact on our decision-making process.
In our human nature, we filter our thoughts (and actions) based on our personal stories, cultural and religious beliefs, motivations, and concepts that we tend to hold true for ourselves. Oftentimes, we expect and demand others around us to see life from the same vernacular. It is extremely important to realize, even though we share commonalities as humans, we do not all have the same personal stories, cultural and religious beliefs, motivations, or concepts. This means your reality may not necessarily be true for others around you.
“Empathy begins with understanding life from another person's perspective. Nobody has an objective experience of reality. It is all through our own individual prisms.”- Sterling K. Brown
To correctly see a thing is critical to personal development. Sometimes the truth, reality, and perception do not correlate. The truth is absolute. Perspective is how something is mentally viewed. Reality is neither derivative nor dependent but somehow exists. In moments when the mind must differentiate to make a wise decision, it is ok to say, “I'm too emotional or too close to be accurate.” At this moment, ask for revelation. How should you perceive the thought? How should you perceive an action? How should this look? Do not look for perfection, look for direction.
It can take a near-supernatural level of courage to challenge your perspective. Often, there is an unspoken, internal fear of changing the narrative. The new narrative could lead to loss. It could lead to a disadvantage. Even though these are possible truths, the true value of another perspective allows you to see more of a situation which provides the information to make a better judgment. Accept what you see, even if you do not like it. It is at this moment that you start to operate in your truth! Accepting does not mean defeat. Accepting means acknowledgment. Once you have acknowledged the view, it is your choice to change it. Contrary to defeat, the mastery of perspective is powerful.
“Life is about perspective and how you look at something... ultimately, you have to zoom out.”- Whitney Wolfe Herd
This important life skill is not only powerful for us but for the others around us too. In this space, you find true solutions in lieu of compromises. You move from a “win/lose” mentality to a “win/win” mentality. See the perspective of the other person, acknowledge it, and then look for the best solution for both. It is then that we all win!
Dr. La Tonya Powers is a mother, pastor, author, entrepreneur, and community leader. Dr. Powers was destined for what she loves to do, and that is helping people whether in or outside the walls of the church. Need strategy? Navigate to www.tfunow.com and book your appointment today!