The Power of Perspective
And How to Adjust Yours for Happier Life
Perspective. It's the driving force behind the way we view nearly everything in this world, and more importantly the emotions that are derived from any instance that requires a form of personal perspective to be drawn.
And when considering perspective, you can go about things (and I say things because perspective can be based on an item, a person, a feeling, an idea, etc) in essentially one of two major ways:
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With complete positivity and an open mind
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With a negative outlook and a closed mind
Sure, they are opposites, and you can absolutely meet in the middle, but regardless there is going to be a greater pull of one of these two options surrounding how you choose to view something.
It is with this then that the power of perspective not only becomes prominent but extremely important in your life, as your perspective on minor things can accumulate into a larger, more generalized perspective on your life as a whole.
And when thinking of your life, I can guarantee that you would hope to view your own with the basis defined in #1. For when you are positive and open-minded around something, and maintain this uplifting perspective, so many other areas of your life will improve.
From your mood to your health to the ways that you are viewed by others, perspective drives all.
If you are looking for some rather simple ways in which you can adjust your own perspective, we're going to get into a few different ideas that you can implement, and also just some general concepts of how you can adjust perspective for a happier life.
It Could Always Be Worse
I honestly hate it when something bad happens to me and someone says:
“Well, it could always be worse!”
Like seriously, it's the last thing you want to hear because it really doesn't change the present at all. But then, if you really tone your perspective out and back, realizing the truth of just how much worse things actually could be for yourself, this little Cliche is one of the most truthful of statements out there.
No matter what happens in your life, there's a good chance that it really could be worse, and you must realize how lucky you are to not have to deal with more major life obstacles such as finding a meal for the night or a roof to block the rain.
I'm sorry, your car broke down, but hey, at least you have a car!
It might sound intense, but it's a really helpful way to view things to make yourself realize that hey, it might seem bad, but this really isn't too bad at all considering just how worse things could be!
Think Of Others Perspective
One of the worst human traits is allowing others' perspectives to take your own and shove it far down a tunnel of negativity. In fact, other people's perspectives can be a very large part of the driving force between your own perspective!
Just think about someone who may not necessarily agree with you. If any type of anger, frustration, or hate arises out of that simple fact, then you are setting your own self up for failure.
Just as powerful as your own ideas can make you think about a thing or a person, it is important to note that in their mind they are feeling the same! It just so happens that their feelings are directed in another direction.
Understand that we are all subject to the thoughts of our brain, and the second you appreciate others perspective, even if it is far from your own views, this will grant you not only a better outlook during that moment but also as a whole throughout your life, resulting in the capability to reach far higher realms of happiness.
Talk About It!
Sometimes our perspective on something can drive us crazy. Maybe it's because you do not necessarily understand why you maintain a certain perspective on something. Maybe you simply feel so strongly about it that it creates bottled up feelings that need to be let out.
And this is why it is so important to talk about your perspective with others. We are all entirely entitled to our own opinions, and hiding them away will always result in some feelings of unhappiness or even slight dread.
Not only will talking about your perspective help you to understand it more, but it will also allow you to voice the things that you hold important to yourself as a form of release. That, and others will also be able to add their own forms of input for meaningful conversations that leave you fulfilled.
Talking about your perspective is an amazing way to view from another's eyes when, how, or why you should adjust it, or if you do not need to at all!
Acknowledge When You’re Wrong
And by wrong, we more so mean acknowledging when your perspective on something could simply be adjusted for a better outlook, because the truth is that none of our opinions are technically ‘wrong’. There are simply better ways to go about them, at times!
Acknowledging when your perspective is wrong is the keystone ingredient to changing it so that more positivity can be derived from your mindset.
Let's say something bad happens to you that you allow to completely ruin your day and alter your mood. But say that this ‘bad thing’ wasn't really too bad at all, it's just something annoying that you have to deal with that you otherwise would like not to.
To NOT allow it to completely ruin your day, you must acknowledge that allowing it to do so simply based on your perspective of how burdensome said “bad thing” is, is rather a silly thing to do.
And when you realize that you were wrong, you can instead transition your thought processes to realizing that (Back to point number 1!) hey, life could really be a heck of a lot worse!
It's okay to be wrong and it is okay to change your mind, but this always begins with recognition and requires initiation to make any transition of mindsets work out for your betterment.
Moments of Reflection and Moments of Thanks
One of the most powerful tools in regards to the power of maintaining a positive perspective on life is to always look back and reflect on the good things. It could be your week, something that happened five minutes ago, or something that happened five years ago!
That part matters not, and what of course does is the fact that you are reflecting at all.
Reflecting on the good things, the little things, the simple things that make you smile, is an excellent strategy in realizing just how amazing your life is. When you never take any of this for granted, a sense of both luck and fulfillment arises from this outlook.
And with Thanksgiving around the corner, there is no better way to begin giving thanks for the things that you are fortunate to be blessed with in your own life than now. But beyond just the present, also ensure to take this strategy past only the holidays that create a prominent aura around something that should always remain at the forefront of your life.
It's simple, really, just taking a few minutes to reflect and to give thanks, but your entire perspective will open up to all the little things worth living for, and happiness follows right on by.
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