Perspective can be defined as the way one regards a thing. A point of view. Why am I thinking about this you may wonder? The reason is another P word – Peace.
Lately I have settled into a peaceful state about a certain situation. Nothing major changed on the other side. The changes happened with me. My perspective of the situation changed. I saw the same images from a different angle, a different viewpoint.
Life is stressful, isn’t it? Daily we are bombarded with issues on all sides – work, nation, family, friends and even strangers that take up arms against you seemingly for no reason. How do we survive all these and remain sane? How can we thrive in life when it appears life itself has sworn an oath to wear us out? I believe I found an answer in Perspective.
What does it take to believe the best about the next person? What does it take to give the benefit of doubt and allow someone to prove themselves one way or another? A change of perspective. If we don’t take proactive action, there is enough out there to make us weary. Rather than seeing people who want to do us wrong, can we look beneath the surface and see perhaps people who were hurt and consequently are lashing out as a form of defence? The saying – “Hurt people, hurt people” is very true. Giving others the benefit of the doubt isn’t for their benefit, it’s for ours. It allows us to survive long enough to start to thrive in this soul sapping world.
As usual, balance is needed. We should not lay down and allow people to ride rough shod over us. While giving the benefit of the doubt, we must be alert to detect when the other party has failed the benefit of the doubt test. For some it becomes obvious very quickly. As we look for resolution, we find that they are just not interested. As we find out information about their antecedence, we may observe a negative pattern. Such we should hold at arm’s length very quickly and be as wise as foxes in dealing with them.
Irrespective of whether the person aggravating you proves you right in giving them the benefit of the doubt or not, Do Not Let Them Steal Your Peace. Change your perspective and act, rather than react. In every situation, no one party is 100% wrong or right so examine yourself also to see what you can do better, however big or small.
No situation is worth losing your peace over. Situations will come and go, such is life. Your life however will be done once it’s gone. There’s no coming and going about life. You have either come or you are gone. Fini. Only one man to date has successfully resurrected BC. Don’t make yourself a martyr for nothing.
When tempted to lose it, remind yourself that it’s about your peace of mind and living the maximum number of years you were given.
Take a breadth, deep or shallow, it doesn’t matter
Exhale and then Act, not React Friends let’s live to fight another day. Life is interesting and everything that’s happening now will someday be a story that you will tell.
Let’s raise a glass , to Life, to Living and to Perspective!
Author : Bunmi Afolabi MBA, CPHR, PMP
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