I dont have a fabulous quote for you girls.. :) but I have been pondering deeply about how much perspective plays into our relationships in our lives.
Now, I am not talking about just how we see a certain situation (aka, their kid has cancer and mine just has a cold) but how our view on life in general and overall plays into our relationships.
Our perspective on how we see ourselves...as important to the system around us, or being run over by it
Our perspective on how we see the world around us ..as safe, or out to get us
Our perspective on conflict ..if it signifies failure to connect, or nutures it
Our perspective on disagreement ..as a challenge, or an encouragement to think differently
Our perspective on change ..as a good thing, or something that strikes fear in your heart
Our perspective on marriage ...as a fly by night institution or a permanent gig
Our perspective on our strengths ...as making us better than the next gal, or a tool in the hand of God
Our perspective on our weaknesses ...a sign of impending failure (yet again!), or a challenge to be better
Our perspective on criticism...a challenge to my character, or chance to improve myself
Our perspective effects everything we think and the ways we react to people, no matter what relationship we have with them.
Also interesting to me, is how a change in perspective or having the wrong perspective can change everything! So often, in the midst of a conflict with someone it is easy to see how a simple change in the way they see the overall picture can change their anger to compassion, their frustration to patience or their right to wrong.
The key, is being willing ..ever willing, to change the perspective that you have. If not change yours, then simply be wiling to see anothers' point of view.
I am praying alot right now, that God will shake up the perceptions I have that are not right. I am praying for Him to move me to the vantage point that I can see things from a more godly angle, so that my perspective is based on truth and not my own opinions.
Any thoughts?
I totally agree about perspective being key. I remember an interesting conversation that my family had a few years ago, where my dad basically posited the theory that perception was more important than reality. The reality of one's situation was not as important, for example, as their perception of that situation. My mom seemed to think that was kind of ridiculous, as she took a more modernist stance, championing the idea of an objective reality.
ReplyDeleteIn retrospect, I've gotta say, I agree with my dad. Maybe it is the post-modern in me, but it seems that, even though reality is important, our perspective on that reality is the real catalyst for our thoughts and actions. Thus, it is incredibly important to examine our perspectives, to allow them to be challenged, and to attempt the often difficult task of changing them when need be.
And from a psychological perspective, even our memories are clouded by our perspective. Two people having experienced the same event will remember it differently based on their perspectives. We do not take photographs in our mind; we paint pictures. And these pictures are based on our own crazy ideas and prejudices, not to mention our physical health and well-being. All of the things in our lives, both in the long-run and the short-term, play a role in how we experience, live, and remember our lives.
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