Perspective
It’s something we likely don’t take into consideration enough when forming opinions about situations and others. Perspective is essentially different points of view. You know the saying “there are two sides to every story”? That’s because we each have our own perspective of our experiences. I keep coming back this topic when I think about writing because I have often found it to be missing when I interact with others. I think it’s important to write about perspective because when it’s acknowledged, we can learn to understand others better. We enjoy life more when we’re focused on seeing the good in others and the value that their uniqueness brings to this world. If someone’s perspective seems to be rooted in evil, we can learn to practice compassion and empathy for them.
Why is considering perspective important? It’s simple, just because you view something one way that does not make it a fact. Opinions are not facts, they are thoughts based on your perspective. Your perspective is formed from your life experiences, core values, race, upbringing, culture, religion, socioeconomic status, where you live, career, and other factors. When we don’t consider other perspectives, we become narrow minded. This can create problems when interacting with others and limits our growth. Think of a friend, family member or co-worker who is stuck in their way and refuses to change or see other points of view. Do you enjoy being around them? How do they make you feel? Why? For me, I find being around these kinds of people emotionally draining because they’re demonstrating a lack of respect for me and my thoughts and those of other people.
We might be guilty to some degree of not having a broad perspective or dismissing others when they disagree with us. If someone has an opinion that you don’t share, it doesn’t inherently make them wrong or a bad person, it makes them different from you. Instead of criticizing them for disagreeing, you can either choose to listen to why they believe this, or simply let them be. I also suggest that you try not to push your thoughts on others. If the other person is willing to listen, explain why you feel how you do about the topic and leave them space to process and respond. You can also enforce personal boundaries if you’re around someone who is trying to push their opinions on you. Say something like “let’s agree to disagree” or “I appreciate that we each have different thoughts on this topic, perhaps we should keep it neutral and not discuss this anymore”. I know it can be tough when you first start standing up for yourself but a respectful person will adhere to your request.
Here’s a few ideas about how can you broaden your perspective:
-Talk to people about their life experiences. Ask questions and listen. Listen more than you talk and commit to understanding where they’re coming from. Often, once we really get to know someone, it makes sense why they feel a certain way.
-Follow people on social media who have experiences that you know nothing about, especially those who are vocal about what makes them different from you. It’s incredible how much you can learn from them.
-Read books, listen to audio books and podcasts, take courses, participate in virtual conferences. I’m a huge fan of education and have grown immensely from self-education.
-Remember that everyone’s opinion and perspective is valid, even if you think it’s ridiculous or unbelievable (to you). We have the ability to treat others with respect, regardless of how they think or act and I encourage you to practice this.
-Realize that you are entitled to your true thoughts, feelings and beliefs. It’s ok if you think differently than those around you. If your perspective is creating issues with others you might want to spend some time understanding why. Perhaps a change in the tone you use when communicating can help. If your perspective is based on hatred, racism, judgement, or other negative beliefs, I strongly encourage you to do some work on why you think this way and if you’re truly ok with it.
-Be open to growing, changing and evolving. Growth defines what 2020 was about for me and I can tell you from experience that it’s allowed me to live a much more peaceful and fulfilling life. When you’re open to expanding your thoughts, you’ll learn to appreciate life more.
Broadening your perspective and learning to understand others better is not about changing the core of who you are, it’s meant to improve your ability to interact with others and increase the quality of your life. Many of us realized the need to do so last year when race-based discrimination in America led to the substantial growth and support of the Black Lives Matter movement. If you’re white, you know racism exists but are likely less aware of the fact that systemic racism exists. The same is true here in Canada. My point is that many of us were finally able to open our eyes and acknowledge that these horrific experiences truly exist. We expanded our perspective and did so to support our fellow human beings. Let this be your inspiration to continue to grow.