Your Perspective Is Your Life

The difference between one individual and another is not their height, race, academic qualifications, circumstances of birth, economic standings and so on, but their perspective.

The difference between one individual who is confident for instance, and another who isn’t, is not what they have or do not have, it is rather their perspective i.e. the way they see and interpret things. This is universally true.

When we say someone has ‘changed’, it is actually their perspective that changed. If you see things differently, you would act differently, and you would be different.

There is nothing more to Humans than their consciousness. We are our consciousness, and when our consciousness changes, we become different persons because our consciousness arises from our perspective.

In almost every situation in life, if you see things differently, you would act a lot differently, and you would be different.

Some people are for instance, unruffled by the opinions of others. It will be almost impossible to find someone who wouldn’t want to have this sort of temperament, and it all boils down to perspective.

Whatever fears or insecurities that you and I still have today is because we have not yet gained the perspective that will help us conquer those specific fears and insecurities. In almost every ramification, we are limited and held hostage mostly by our own beliefs and indoctrinations, but it is in our power to change or hack them. The right perspective changes everything.

People often hold on to their beliefs and views, most times because they do not know better, and other times because they falsely assume everything in life is cast in stone. But the mark of an advancing being is to be able to challenge his/her views and beliefs. We are not infallible, and to assume everything is cast in stone, and that everything in life is black or white is to miss out on the possibility of ever growing our being and having a better understanding of humanity.

We are all just here, nobody has it all figured out, and on our journey to becoming better humans, we would have to develop the ability to challenge our own biases, entertain alternate views to ours, and maybe reconsider our position if met with a superior argument. There is absolutely no shame in changing our minds or reconsidering our stance. Life is dynamic, and we all evolve. We cannot forever hold on to beliefs that do not make us better as humans.

The difference between where you are, and where you want to be is perspective.

Whatever it is that you want from life, for example, if you are broke, anxious, depressed, or if you lack confidence, the one thing I know that can empower you to beat your circumstances and achieve your aspirations in life is the right Perspective.

I remember a story I read about a businessman who was neck-deep in debt and couldn’t see any way out. His creditors and suppliers were all demanding payment. The man sat in a park wondering how he was going to save his company from bankruptcy. While he was there, an old man walked up to him and asked why he was looking so downcast and troubled. The Businessman explained his ordeal to him, and after listening, the old man told him not to worry, then he pulled out a cheque book from his pocket and wrote the businessman a cheque and said “Take this money, meet me here exactly one year from today and you can pay me back at that time”.

As the old man turned and walked away, the businessman looked at the cheque and couldn’t believe his luck. In his hands was a $500,000 cheque signed by Warren Buffet, one of the richest men in the world.

With this cheque in hand, the man’s worries dissipated, his confidence bouyed up, his thoughts became clearer, and his anxiety disappeared, but rather than cash the cheque, he deposited it in a safe to serve as his last resort. He used his new found confidence to negotiate better deals and restructure his business. Within a few months, he was out of debt, and his business had become profitable.

Exactly one year after, the businessman returned to the park with the uncashed cheque, and as agreed, the old man came to meet with him. But as he was about to hand the cheque over to the man and share his success story, a nurse came running and grabbed the old man.

“I’m so glad I caught him” she said. “I hope he hasn’t been bothering you much. He always escapes from the mental hospital and tells people that he is Warren Buffet”. She then took the old man away.

The businessman stood there, shocked. All along he thought he had half a million dollars to fall back to. Apparently, a fake cheque had changed his perspective from that of scarcity to that of abundance and built up in him, the confidence and enthusiasm that he needed to turn his business story around.

A man with $0, but the right perspective can make some substantial money within reasonable time.

Every time you feel stuck in life, know that there is a perspective that can liberate you.

Our perspective is our life, that is why we need to seek perspectives that empower us and help us become our best possible selves — confident, resilient and grateful.

If you’re not confident, find the right perspective. If you’re not rich, find the right perspective. If you’re not happy, find the right perspective. Seek perspective, and set yourself free.