A Change in Perspective

We have all been in a place where we wanted something to change. Maybe you are in that season right now, and you wish things were different. Either in your life or in your work. Desiring change and not seeing it happen can be a discouraging place. And if we are where we don’t want to be for too long, we can lose our motivation or our passion. We can lose hope. 

It is important to remember that sometimes, the key to changing a situation is not in changing our circumstances. Sometimes, the key to change lies in our perspective. Because we don’t always get to choose our circumstances, but our perspective is wholly ours. 

And this is not to negate the reality that there are times when we do have to make the choice to change our actual circumstances to move forward in growth. I just want to make the case that a change in circumstances alone will not always bring about the changes that we think it will. 

Here are some changes in perspective that I have seen make an impact in my own life and in the lives and work of my clients. 

1) A perspective of gratitude:

I saw @jesstodryk post a reel the other day where she asked her son the key to happiness. He responded "being grateful." (Such wisdom from the mouths of babes!)

Gratitude does not deny pain or put its head in the sand when hard stuff happens, but it does choose to acknowledge and accept the good with the bad, and it chooses to be thankful in it all.

I am not here for the pursuit of happiness, and I don't think a feeling based on circumstances is a worthwhile goal. However, the pursuit of joy and a life of purpose are pursuits that are rewarding and valuable. 

2) A perspective of purpose:

This is why we have all of our clients first work through their mission and vision. (For more on this check out our blogs on the topics). Your purpose supersedes your circumstances, and you can live out your mission anywhere. 

When we view all of our circumstances (the hard and the good, the sweet and the sour) with purpose, it allows us a wider lens with which to view what we wish would change.

3) A perspective of compassion:

Towards ourselves and others. It can be hard to change your perspective about something when you are approaching a situation in terms of what you think should be, and being overly critical of yourself for not being there. 

This should be easier. This should have happened years ago. This should be different before I move forward.

Rather, when thinking about our perspective about something, we would do better to ask questions of what really is, without judgment. 

This is hard. Is there a reason? Why is it more challenging than I initially planned for? This hasn't happened yet. Were there circumstances beyond my control that changed things? Are there decisions I can make for this to happen? These are my current circumstances. How can I move forward?

Life is made up of good and bad. Sometimes more of one than the other. And we get to choose how we view it all. What lens will we choose to look through?