Imagine you see a little boy on the street with his dog. The dog stops by the road and the little boy tries to get the dog to sit.
With frustration building, the boy forcefully hits the dog, screams and yells demands. The boy completely loses it and yanks the dogs lead as they start to cross the road.
What are your thoughts in that moment?
‘This kid shouldn’t be looking after this dog?’
‘Where are the parents to control this situation?’
‘How could a little kid do that to such a helpless and cute puppy?’
You may feel angry, a sense of injustice or maybe even a little confused.
What you don’t know is that the child walks home to a loving mother who is dying of cancer. The boy can’t make sense of it.
His anger is only externalised because of the rage he feels inside.
Have your feelings about this scenario changed?
What just happened here?
Did you radically change the way you feel?
You’re a smart one, so I’m sure you realise what shifted.
It was your perspective.
This could possibly be the most underutilised skill your brain has to produce, and if you use it strategically in your business, it can be the key to producing great results.
Yes, since perspectives are subjective, really none of them are ‘right’ or ‘true’.
My question would be: are you choosing perspectives that serve you?
Think about when you have a prospect say ‘no’, when you have low sales, when you get negative feedback, when you have a lack of drive or discipline.
What is your interpretation of those events?
Does a ‘no’ mean you’re not good enough? Or that they weren’t the right fit?
Do low sales mean you failed? Or is it an indicator that you are putting yourself out there?
Does negative feedback mean your stuff isn’t good? Or is it a sign that you are reaching a large enough audience for contrast in opinions?
Does lack of drive mean you are lost? Or you need to recharge?
Now let’s get this clear. This is not just positive thinking BS. It’s a genuine shift in the way you view a situation so you can move forward with love, passion, determination and understanding. It’s not wishful thinking, its GENUINE INSIGHT.
Think about a scenario that’s challenging you.
Some questions that may help:
1) What’s the story from their point of view?
2) How does that differ from your point of view?
3) How would an outside observer see it?
4) What’s great about this challenge?
5) If you tackled this situation with deep feelings of love, how would it change?
6) Where is there growth in this scenario?
7) What can you learn?
There are some overall themes in perspective I want you to try on for the next couple days.
1) Every challenge is an opportunity to grow. The reasons why they feel challenging is because it’s offering me a lesson, and this challenge will continue to arise in my life until I get the lesson. I like to tell myself: without problems my life may be great, but it wouldn’t be very deep and meaningful.
2) As I grow, I have more to give. With each challenge and insight I can give more love, energy, passion, creativity, gratitude, vision and leadership to those around me.
Shifting perspective can take some work. It takes creativity, flexibility, focus, humility and love.
But think of what your journey would be like if very little fazed you. What could you accomplish if you weren’t worried about what other people think, about others opinions of your services and products?
Most importantly, how would things be different if you didn’t judge yourself for falling short of a goal?
That’s what’s up for grabs when you choose to strengthen the skill of shifting perspectives.
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