What is perspective and why is it so important?
Our perspective is how we see and interpret the world around us. It is of vital importance because it determines how we respond to life events. A healthy perspective can be the difference between being a victim or a phoenix.
We all love the movies where the characters overcome hardships and triumph in the end. The Pursuit of Happiness, Miracle, The Shawshank Redemption and Silver Linings Playbook are a few movies that come to mind. There is something about overcoming and achieving that has mass appeal. We love rooting for the underdog. Perhaps it’s because it gives us hope that we can overcome our own challenges.
(If you're at the base of the Flatirons, looking up, you don't even know the Rocky Mountains are behind them. Pull back for a better perspective to see the full picture.)
Our backgrounds, relationships, our living and working environments, our social and economic status, and the information we consume, all play a role in shaping our perspective. However, if we are going to be able to navigate through challenging times, hardships and even crisis, then we’ll want to be equipped with a much deeper kind of perspective.
What I’m talking about is a life philosophy type of perspective. One that guides, keeps you focused and true to yourself. This kind of perspective is possible when we take inventory and identify what is most important in life. SevenWealth has a framework to help you with this process. When your personal goals are aligned with your big picture values, you’ll have a powerful foundation that you can reflect on when difficult situations arise.
A healthy perspective drives our mental outlook which in turn determines our mental attitude. When our outlook and attitude toward life are healthy, we are able to see and interpret things in a way that allow us to step back from the emotion of the situation. This is not to suggest that emotional responses to situations aren’t warranted or that they should be suppressed. Sometimes a four letter word or a scream might actually help in the heat of the moment. It’s after the initial shock of the situation, which will pass, that we draw on our perspective, which when healthy, puts us in a position to respond in a coolheaded, calm and logical way.
The beauty of perspective is that we are in control. We can choose a pessimistic, gloomy, depressed approach like the character Eeyore in Winnie-the Pooh, or we can reflect on the life and legacy that we have envisioned and let our perspective show our true character and compassion for others. Go and be the hero of your own life story.
In my next blog, we will discuss the power of having a healthy vision.
Plan, Invest, Live™
Adam