As I was pondering over what to share with you today, I started to think about what I have learnt that has become second nature to me, but would inspire others in their daily lives. We all want short cuts to live life well. Any tips and tricks to maintain peace and stability are always welcome. Well, the keys I share may not be short-cuts, but simple strategies to apply to life’s challenges. If you don’t utilise a learned- skill eg. changing your perspective, then it’s just another strategy that sits on the shelf.
Difficult paths in my life have been well-trodden; this became the catalyst for change. If I didn’t pursue peace and change my perspective which in turn would change the way I responded to the problem, I knew I would go under. It is harder to return from a state of deep depression than to recognize the trigger that affects you and nip it in the bud. Intentionality caused me to step back from the situation and change my perspective on a matter. I was intentional about progressing forward and not to become a victim to my circumstances.
The old expression that you can’t see the wood for the trees is so apt when you are under it and pressed on every side. Often, we feel like the whole world is against us. A key motivator for change is to step out of the thicket and look at the situation from an objective point- of- view. Easier said than done, you may well say, but again it comes back to good choices. Choose to step out of the quagmire of oppression and frustration and remove the emotion and look at the facts. A good way to do this is by writing it down. I find if I write down the pros and cons I start to use a different part f the brain and the tension eases. Oh, and don’t forget to breathe. If identifying the positives and the negatives is too hard for you, ask for impartial advice from someone not emotionally involved with the situation and will give you wise counsel. Any way to reduce the pressure is a plus. A burden shared is a burden halved.
Bill Gates said, “If you show people the problem and you show them the solution, they will be motivated to act.”
Challenges and temptations will arise at the most inopportune moment and every challenge is to keep you from your purpose and destiny. If we see the test as simply that, a test, then you will be motivated to pass and succeed. This takes you out of the emotional phase and into the factual stage where it is far easier to assess what is going on around you.
Changing your perspective is a simple, profound key that can quickly turn a lousy day into an awesome day. When an obstacle or crisis hits, it becomes the breeding ground for growth and transpiration. To see it as a positive as opposed to the negative sets you up for success. Transpiration comes from activation, or we could say change comes when we do something differently. It really is worth changing your perspective when obstacles come your way. If you do what you have always done, you will get what you have always got. Now that’s a waste of time, so clear your lens, change your perspective and enjoy today.