On the TV series “A Million Little Things”, an episode was devoted to the impact of George Floyd’s death on a group of friends and their families. As one multi-generational African-American family prepared to participate in a Black Lives Matter protest, a family discussion unraveled, revealing how each of the characters reacted to racial injustice differently through the lens of their own life experiences – which then informed how they chose to participate in the protest rally (or not).
Situations, when viewed from many different angles, can create diverse perspectives that provide clarity in dark, muddled times, untie stubborn knots, or open up space and possibility in instances when we feel constrained or stuck.
Changing the way you think – and see – impacts how you look at things. Am I seeing a problem or an opportunity?
Perspective can become a powerful ally in our everyday lives, especially in uncertain times like the past year. For instance, while most remote office workers juggled – and struggled – to cope with work and family life intertwined, many of the same employees saw this as an opportunity to connect more strongly with loved ones, pickup new skills, move to a new city, and perhaps forever change how they see the future of their work lives.
In The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, Stephen R. Covey says, “To change ourselves effectively, we first had to change our perceptions.”
Perspective restores balance in our lives and situations where we feel off-kilter, stuck, lost, or just unsure where to go.
Where has life gone off-balance for you? What if you could see things without judgment or attachment?
Coaching can help you explore this more deeply.
