Successful people have a certain perspective on life. It is this perspective or point of view that helps them reach the pinnacle of success. There are various moments to learn in your daily life. Everything that happens around you is an opportunity. Your perspective on life will only teach you how to maximize the return from this opportunity.
These days, unfortunately, most of us are obsessed with the idea of criticizing. We love to point fingers at anyone including our family members.
This often clouds our ability to make sound decisions and develop an idyllic perspective in life. The result is that we are under constant stress. It is like chasing a goal that you can never achieve. You will keep trying but the end result will always be disappointing.
The ability to live a successful life is directly dependent on the points of view that you have. Interestingly, the perspective on life is not cast in stone. With time, you can shift your perspective.
What is The Perspective on Life?
SUMMARY
Perspective on life defines your attitude towards it. It is the way you choose to live your life.
Perspective on life is the way people see life. Some see the brighter side while others will only find a reason to complain. Each one of us just needs to find a perspective to stay happy.
This is the first and most important step towards leading a satisfied and purpose-filled life. From the minute a child steps out of his or her house, they develop a perspective on life. This perspective is shaped by their interactions with the people around them.
The day to day experiences from digital marketing or social media and other platforms also impact this perspective. Over the years, these personal experiences are refined and give us our key perspectives in life. An important thing to understand is that any perspective can be changed/modified. It is not set in stone, it is extremely malleable.
How To Develop Different Perspectives in Life?
The key to a successful life is to understand that each one of us always has a choice. You can choose to be happy or sad, it all depends on your perspective. So, how does one develop different perspectives?
We have already told you that it is interlinked to your day to day experiences. But there is more. Here is a look at ten ways that can help you develop your existing perspectives in life.
1. Be clear about what you want
Like we said earlier, life is all about choices. You need to identify your purpose in life. This is the foundation on which you can develop your perspectives in life. Once your purpose is clear, you will stop complaining and look for ways to achieve your goal.
2. Develop a plan
No goal can be achieved without a concrete plan to support it. Similarly, when you want to develop your perspectives in life, you need to have a plan in place. How will you achieve your goals, what will be your milestones?
3. Open your mind to opinions
You can have an opinion and so can others around you. Respect this fact. When you are in an argument, your role does not end at voicing your opinion. Listening to the other person is also your responsibility. Understand their perspective because it will help you develop yours.
4. It is okay to fail
Your perspectives are all about your experiences. Some of these are successful while others can be failures. Even the failures are an opportunity to learn.
Different Types of Perspective in Life
Here is a list of different types of perspectives categorized in the domain of psychology.
1. Psychodynamic perspective
This perspective focuses on the role of the unconscious mind in human behavior. Your early childhood experiences, relationships with people, and experiences as a child define this perspective.
2. Behavioral perspective
Another interesting perspective in psychology focuses on the observable behavioral traits of the human being. It is developed on the basis of how an individual learns different types of behaviors and adapts them in his or her daily life.
3. Cognitive perspective
This perspective is a recent entrant in the domain of psychology. However, in recent years, it has gained a lot of popularity. The Cognitive perspective is applicable to the modern-day youth. It is based on their ability to solve problems, decision making, ability to overcome challenges, etc.
4. Biological perspective
Interestingly, this perspective depends on human physiology. Our immune system, endocrine system, the nervous system, all tend to impact the biological perspective. For instance, if some of the systems are not functioning correctly, it impacts certain centers of the brain which in turn affect our perspective.
5. Cross-cultural perspective
This one talks about your perspective being influenced by the culture in which you are raised. Your upbringing, your traditions play a pivotal role in helping you develop perspectives in life. In simple terms, culture influences our ability to think.
6. Evolutionary perspective
As we said, perspectives in life are not constant. They change and evolve with time. Perspectives that the stone age man had are very different from what the modern-day man has. These differences are what led to the development of an evolutionary perspective.
7. Humanistic perspective
This perspective in life is linked to the human ability to adapt and stay motivated. There is something that motivates us to develop a certain perspective. This motivation could stem from love, hate, fear, care, or any other emotion. However, it has a profound impact on our perspectives on life.
How To Change Perspectives in Life?
The key to living a happy life is to change your perspective and tilt it to the positive side. As we said, perspectives in life keep changing with our experience and exposure. Here are a few simple tips on how to shift to a positive perspective in life:
1. Live in the present
A lot of us spend so much time wondering about how things should be. This leads to unnecessary concerns and a lot of negativity seeps into our lives. Instead, if we spend time appreciating the moment that you have, you will learn to enjoy life. This will automatically help you develop positive perspectives in life.
2. Think of the overarching picture
Life is about the larger picture. So, this moment may seem like a big burden. But you need to learn to look beyond the troubles. Teach yourself to look at the larger picture and you will surely notice some positive viewpoints as well. Regularly doing this helps in adapting to positive perspectives.
3. Smile more often
Smiling is known to be a great stress reliever. Don’t be disheartened by your failures because when you do so, the perspective shifts towards the negative side. Instead, smile at your failures and chase your dreams with greater determination. In the process, you will realize the importance of positive perspectives as you race towards success.
4. Look at the other point of view
Every story has two sides and so does a perspective. Your perspective in life will evolve when you step into the other person’s shoes and understand their point of view.
5. Start working out
There is nothing like a workout session when it comes to boosting the positive hormones in the body. When you are feeling a little too low on the positive perspectives in life, try to build a workout routine for yourself. This will motivate you to live a healthy life and gradually shift your perspectives to the positive side.
6. Help people around you
Positive perspectives are linked to an overall positive attitude in life. When you help others achieve their goals, you experience a sense of satisfaction. This goes a long way in fueling positive in your perspectives as well. Additionally, it empowers you to broaden your horizons and think beyond your personal benefits.
7. Sleep well
In today’s fast-paced life, we often underestimate the importance of a good night’s sleep. Experts have often talked about the benefits of good sleep. It helps release stress, increases your happiness quotient , and even boosts your immunity. All this and much more, each time you take a relaxing nap. Interestingly, good sleep can work wonder to shift your perspective as well.
8. Pen down your thoughts
Writing thoughts or maintaining a journal is an excellent way to cleanse the mind. By writing the thoughts, you get a chance to analyze the negative ones. You can consciously focus on staying away from them. Simply put, writing is a therapeutic way of letting out the negative thoughts.
Don’t keep your thoughts to yourself. You need to evaluate them because of the impact that they have on your perspectives in life. Connect with friends and family to share your thoughts. Hear their opinions and pick up whatever good that you can. Also, meditate daily. During meditation, the mind gets a chance to organize the thoughts, this gives you clarity in your perspective.
10. Indulge in self care
Prioritize yourself. The world is not your priority. You need to spare some time to listen to your thoughts instead of just bottling them in your mind. If you don’t let them out, they will only add negativity. Make a self-care routine, spend some time with yourself, appreciating the positivity in your life.
Examples of Perspective in Life
Everyone is entitled to his or her perspective. The beauty of the matter lies in the fact that this perspective can be modified, it matures with time. Here are some interesting examples of different perspectives on life.
1. A farmer complains about the lack of rain. But a construction worker is happy due to the lack of rain. Now, here is the twist. The farmer is worried that the crop/produce will not be up to the mark. But the construction worker is happy because he can now work more and complete his project.
2. A child is happy that his parents are not going to work. He / She gets to spend more time with them. But the parents could be unhappy because they may have lost their jobs. In such times, it is a good idea to coax the mind to see the brighter side of the story and not get depressed.
3. One of the most common examples in this category is that of a glass that is half full. Now for one person, the glass has at least some water. But another perspective could focus only on the emptiness of the glass. Clearly, one always has the choice of looking at the positive perspective and moving on in life.
4. A society converts its parking space into a garden. From the perspective of the residents, they have lost parking space and they are complaining. But the children in society will have a different perspective – they will be very happy because they have playing space.
5. A mother cooks the favorite food of her children. From their perspective, they will be very happy and look forward to their favorite meal. But the others in the house who do not like the food will have a different perspective.
A difference in perspective is very normal. All you need to do is open your mind to the perspectives around you. Adapting and evolving is a process and you should be a part of it.
Perspective in Life Quotes
There is nothing like a bunch of good lines to motivate you through the day. These are thoughts that can inspire you to develop a positive perspective in life. When you feel down and worn out, these words can help you lift your spirits. So, here is a look at some good quotes:
1. “Yesterday is not ours to recover, but tomorrow is ours to win or lose”
– Lyndon B. Johnson
You can’t change what has already happened. But you can still focus on improving what is yet to happen – your future.
2. “Keep your face to the sunshine and you can not see a shadow”
– Helen Keller
Sunshine and shadows are known to co-exist. You need to learn to look at the sunshine and move ahead.
3. “Find a place inside where there is joy, and the joy will burn out the pain.”
– Joseph Campbell
Use happy thoughts inside you to motivate yourself to look for this positive side.
4. “Positive anything is better than negative nothing.”
– Elbert Hubbard
There is always a positive side to every situation.
5. “Nothing happens to you, it happens for you. See the positive in the negative events.”
– Joel Osteen
You need to broaden your horizons and look beyond the obvious facts to identify the positives in the situations that you are battling.
6. “Believe that life is worth living and your belief will help create the fact.”
– William James
Your belief is one of the biggest motivations to take you ahead in life. If you believe that you can find positivity in yourself, you will find it easy to develop positive perspectives.
7. “Don’t be afraid to stand for what you believe in, even if it means standing alone.”
– Andy Biersack
The masses may not support your perspective. But that does not mean you should give up on them. If you have a certain point of view that is backed by firm logic, stick to it.
8. “Your smile will give you a positive countenance that will make people feel comfortable around you.”
– Les Brown
A smile is one of the best motivators not just for you but for the person on the other side as well. So smile away your stress and worries.
9. “I always like to look on the optimistic side of life but I am realistic enough to know that life is a complex matter.”
– Walt Disney
Life is not easy. But with a little bit of effort and calm thoughts, you can overcome difficulties and see the benefits of positive perspectives in life.
10. “Every day brings new choices.”
– Martha Beck
Remember, it is your choice whether to develop a happy perspective and live a happy life or continue to be depressed with the negativities around you.
Conclusion
The way you see things in life lays the foundation of your success as an individual. Developing a positive perspective is not easy. You will take time so be patient and continue to work towards it.
Coax your mind into looking for the positive things in your day to day life. This will motivate you to pursue the path with greater determination.
