5 Simple Ways To Change Your Perspective: Transform Your World
Introduction: The Power of Perspective
Aloha. As I sit on a veranda overlooking Kalakaua Bay on the Big Island of Hawaii, I try to imagine what Captain Cook and his crew must have perceived before they came to shore. When Cook arrived, the only one that could see the incoming ships on the horizon was the tribe’s seer, or shaman. Since the native people had never seen a ship before, their brain had no way of recognizing what it was—only when the shaman described what was coming did the people finally see it.
Perspective, perspective, perspective! This simple truth illustrates something profound: the way you see the world shapes your reality. Your perspective influences everything—from your daily choices to your long-term success. The way you look at the world may not be to your best advantage, but once you start to recognize this, change becomes possible.
How Your Perspective Affects Your Actions
Your perspective is powerful. If you think it’s too wet and cold outside to go for that daily walk, you miss out on relaxation and better sleep. More importantly, you’re setting a precedent to skip workouts. Before long, one day turns into weeks of sitting on the couch instead of moving your body.
But what if you shift your perspective? You dig out your rain jacket and deal with the discomfort. While on your outing, you celebrate the rain that makes everything vibrant. You honor it for growing your food, get your workout in, sleep better that night, and have the energy to tackle whatever comes next. On a bigger scale, your perspective influences where you go to school, your job prospects, where you move, and even how much money you make.
5 Simple Ways to Change Your Perspective
1. Talk With Someone
One of the easiest ways to shift perspective is to talk to someone who thinks differently about something than you do. Find someone from a different background and culture and listen with an open mind. Don’t let your own experiences keep you from hearing what they’re saying—instead, use it as an opportunity to learn about new possibilities. Make the time to listen without judgment. I had a picnic in the park with a client (Cindy) and her two children, and it changed her career path forever when I suggested she write about sustainable fashion for children.
2. Change Your Surroundings
Travel or a change of scenery is good for the soul. Unfamiliar surroundings, people, and customs are a challenge—and that’s a good thing. Seeing something new and unfamiliar shifts your perspective like nothing else. Think back on the last time you took a vacation. No matter what challenges you faced at work before you left, they seemed less of an issue while you were gone. Maybe you came up with the perfect solution while sitting by the pool. Getting away allows your mind to wander and consider new possibilities. Something as simple as stepping away from your desk or going for a walk can help you see a new path you couldn’t envision before.
3. Change Up Your Routine
Routines are great—they make our lives easier and prevent mental fatigue. But they can also be confining. It’s much easier to keep doing the familiar routine than to try something new. Yet changing up your routine and embracing the challenge of doing something unfamiliar can help you see things in a different light. If that shift in perspective gives you new insights, go for it. Otherwise, it’s easy to slip back into the familiar routine.
4. Use Visualization Exercises
Athletes and successful people from all walks of life have used visualization exercises for years to break through barriers and do things they thought impossible. Athletes spend time each day imagining reaching their goals, running through vivid details, until their mind is convinced they can do it. The body then follows suit. You can tap into this same power. Shifting your perspective involves imagining something you didn’t think was possible. Get comfortable, close your eyes, and start to imagine that you CAN do whatever you want to do. Be as detailed as possible, use your imagination, and spend a few minutes each day practicing—you’ll see progress.
5. Believe You Can Change
The most painful times are often the most transformative. Throughout our lives, we adapt to change with both pain and joy. Believing we have control of our destiny helps us make better choices and gives us a clearer perspective on how we show up each day. We have the ability to shift our perspective on where we stand in almost any situation. For me, birthing my child was the most physically painful experience of my life, yet when I met my son, the pain was forgotten—something shifted in me that I never could have imagined.
Conclusion: Keep Moving Forward
Now that we’ve gone through various ways to help shift your perspective, give each of these strategies a try. Keep working at it—it will get easier with practice. There are plenty of reasons for us all to shift our perspective so we can be part of the SOULutions making the world a better place for all lifekind.
Your Call to Action
Which of these five strategies resonates with you the most? Start with that one this week. Notice how shifting just one small perspective changes your day. Share your perspective shift in the comments below—I’d love to hear how you’re transforming your world!
Big Love and Aloha
❤️
You’re Awesome!
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