Can changing your Perspective bring you, Inner Peace?
If you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.
Dr. Wayne Dyer
Perspective
Perspective is the way that you see something. It’s your point of view.
For instance, if you think that toys corrupt children’s minds, then a toy shop is an evil place from your standpoint.
Now, I realize that was a jarring example – of course, we can think of all the creative toys that live in a toy store, such as building blocks and a gazillion art projects.
Still, it makes my point!
But will changing our viewpoint help us find inner peace?
Yes, yes, it can!
Changing your Perspective
Here’s another example – You think you’re having a terrible day, and boy, are you grumpy!
You come across someone in tears while navigating your day the best you can, just to finish those errands. Of course, you do the right thing by consoling them and getting them on the right path.
From your perspective, you were having a terrible day, but your viewpoint changed once you realized it was not as bad as the person that you had helped.
Then, of course, there’s Social Media, the biggest culprit of a skewed vantage point, but we must remember, “the grass isn’t always greener.”
As you scroll through Instagram, it seems some folks live better lives than we do, but is it real, or are we just looking through a camera lens?
You should come to terms with the fact that you will not be able to change what happens around you in most situations. However, you always have a choice of how you react!
And most importantly, how you view the situation.
Be thankful for what you have; you’ll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don’t have, you will never, ever have enough.
― Oprah Winfrey
When you focus your attention and energy on what you can control vs. what you cannot, it will allow your mind to be at rest and be calmer.
In other words, we can control our thoughts and feelings, but we cannot control situations and other people.
But how can a positive perspective allow you to feel inner peace and calm?
Benefits of Changing your Perspective
So, what are the benefits? What’s in it for us if we change our perspective?
- Appreciation – We’ll gain a greater appreciation for our current circumstances.
- Empathy – we’ll learn the ability to empathize, which is the exercise of stepping into someone else’s shoes.
- Encouragement – you will be encouraged and inspired to take (or continue) to take action; towards your goals and towards doing good in the world.
- Connection – we can connect to our inner consciousness – our inner mind – where we can notice the place where inner peace lives (or should live).
So how do I start?
Here are some questions you can ask yourself when presented with a “bad” situation to help you review and change your perspective.
- What is a more practical and positive way to look at the situation?
- What are the good angles of these circumstances?
- And then. How can I look at this differently?
Negative Thoughts
Another critical aspect of changing your perspective is identifying those negative thoughts running through your mind.
When you catch yourself with a limiting or negative thought, ask yourself what else might be happening here?
Be aware, be “in tune.” Keep your “ear” out and listen for when you hear your negative mindset taking over your internal dialogue.
Here are a few examples to get you started
- When you hear yourself thinking:
- “What if I’m not good enough? I’ll be a failure.”
- Change that negative thought to:
- “Everyone starts somewhere, and even successful people all failed along their way.”
- When you hear yourself thinking:
- “If it’s this hard, I’m probably not good at it.”
- Shift that thought to:
- “If it’s hard. I need to put in more effort, and with great effort, I will achieve amazing victories!”
- And when you hear the negative voice in your head tell you –
- “Well, if I don’t try, then I can’t fail.”
- Switch that thought to:
- “If I don’t try, I’ve already failed.”
Next, Let’s Find your Inner Peace
Is this all making sense? Great! Now, I’d like you to take out your journal and write down all of your thoughts: the good, the bad, and the ugly.
I’d like you to just focus on the ugly thoughts for this article and this practice.
- The ones that don’t serve you.
- The ones that sound similar to my samples above.
- The ones that are negative and incorrectly telling you that you “can’t.”
Take a look at those negative thoughts, and just like we did with the examples above, replace those negative thoughts with positive ones.
Remember, your thoughts have power!
Now can you see the power of changing your perspective? I hope so! Share with me in the comments below!
One last tip!
OH! One last thing before I go.
You’ve probably heard the expression, “We’re all in the same storm, but we’re not in the same boat.”
Collectively, as a society, we need to remember to throw out life preservers to those who need them when we are able. And then reach for them when we are in need.
But for so many, asking for help isn’t always easy. Our pride gets in the way. We think that we just need to muscle through & with a bit of hope, we can do it. And sometimes, that will work.
But sometimes, my sweet friends, when you run out of steam and just can’t take another step, it’s time to sit and be quiet.
Allow whatever feeling you’re feeling to flow. Cry if you need to, yell if you must. Get outside! I promise the fresh air on your face will help clear your mind.
And then? Take the time to work on changing your perspective! Yes? YES!
I believe in you; now it’s your turn!
Until next time … Peace and Blessings, Friends!