Perspective

Perspective

Perspective.  It’s our point of view.  Our frame of mind.  Our approach.  Our way of seeing things.  Our own interpretation.  Everyone sees themselves and their lives in a certain light.  We need perspective to see clearly, so we don’t lose sight of what’s truly important in life.

“You don’t know how good you have it.”

“You have so much potential! How do you not see that?”

In a world where we are constantly assessing ourselves and others, these thoughts float into our minds for a reason.  But when was the last time you actually gave  someone some perspective?  When was the last time someone put things in perspective for you?  Perhaps we don’t want to come off as intrusive.  Or perhaps others assume that we don’t take constructive criticism well.  Point blank — It never hurts to gain a new perspective.  Similarly, it never hurts to be a “noticer.”  In fact, the world could use more of them.

In Andy Andrew’s “The Noticer,” a uniquely divine man named Jones explains that “In desperate times, more than anything else, folks need perspective.  For perspective brings calm.  Calm leads to clear thinking.  Clear thinking yields new ideas.  And ideas produce the bloom of an answer.  Keep your head and heart clear.  Perspective can just as easily be lost as it can be found.”

Truthfully, It can be difficult to see the positives in our lives from time to time, and it’s completely normal.  No matter how grateful we are or can be, we all have times when all we can possibly focus on, are what we consider to be the negatives or the “tough stuff” that we’re plagued with.  And that our world is plagued with.

And somehow, we find ourselves despising the lady stopped at the light next to us in her brand spankin’ new Porsche.  You subconsciously assume that she must have it easy, or that she simply “has it all.”  Little do you know, that despite being incredibly well off financially, that lady in the Porsche hasn’t spoken to her family in years, hates her job, and isn’t happy in the least.

Let’s just say, that the lady in the Porsche would give anything to have the relationship that you have with your family.  She’d be envious of your friendships and the quality time you spend with your siblings.  She’d tell you that there are some things that money just cannot buy.  But you’d never know that, unless she pulled over and told you herself.

“Everybody wants to be on the top of the mountain, but if you’ll remember, mountaintops are rocky and cold.  There is no growth on the top of a mountain.  Sure, the view is great, but what’s a view for?  A view just gives us a glimpse of our next destination–our next target.  But to hit that target, we must come off the mountain, go through the valley, and begin to climb the next slope.  It is in the valley that we slog through the lush grass and rich soil, learning and becoming what enables us to summit life’s next peak.”~ The Noticer.

Whether we believe it or not, we are right where we are supposed to be.  Don’t get me wrong; it’s hard not to compare your accomplishments and salaries to those of others.  As humans, we are naturally competitive, and that’s okay.  What’s not okay, is wasting your time worrying about how Sally Sue has already done x, y, and z in her life, and you’ve only accomplished x (if that).  We are at the stage in life we are at, because everything happens for us when it is supposed to.  Not a second too soon, nor a second too late.  Accepting that isn’t always easy, but neither is accepting a fresh perspective.

And perhaps upon receiving perspective, or when frazzled with life, it’s truly amazing what a deep breath (or five) can do.  Not to get all science-y, but it has been proven that sending fresh oxygen to the brain and taking long deep breaths can counter stress and slow down your heart rate–at least enough for you to think rationally again.  Sometimes all we need is to pause and give ourselves a moment to breathe and be in the moment.

As Jones said, “You can accomplish whatever you want to accomplish.  You are never lacking funds.  Neither is the calendar your enemy.  When you need most to accomplish something great in your life, you are only lacking an idea.”

It is in those pure moments when we stop and put things in perspective, that we become aware of all the good in our lives.  We inhale optimism and exhale doubt.

Ah, that’s the stuff.

Written by the very talented Melissa Mead Weber

 

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