A Change of Perspective

Lately, I’m feeling tired. I’m tired of dealing with this pandemic, with the craziness of this election, and with the media (both sides), to name a few. What has happened to our lives? What has happened to our freedoms, our choices, what this country was founded on?

We must stand together for truth, for justice, and for the American way, regardless of where we fall on the political spectrum. We’ve watched for four years as our country has battled itself. Now we are battling yet again. What happens to us in all this fight for power? That’s what it is, isn’t it?

I think as humans, we start off with great intentions. We seek to help others, to save the world. Then somewhere along the lines we get taken over. But by what? Power? Greed? Is it just in our nature to always want more? To think of only ourselves and disregard what is right, what is just, and the greater good of humanity?

We start out wanting to help and change the world, to spread light, love and positivity. Then as we go through life, we’re told by the powers that be that we need to profit. We have to take care of number one. The world starts to become all about you. It takes hold and starts to drive you down avenues you never intended to go.

But for most, there’s an inner conflict. It’s confusing to have the world pushing you in one direction when your heart is telling you something different. So which side will win? Does either have to win? Can they simply coexist? Perhaps there’s a happy medium under the umbrella of life, liberty, justice and the pursuit of happiness.

Your heart has to be happy and at peace. I know what I choose… how about you? The choice is always our own. I hope you’ll choose to stand up for democracy, decency, peace, hope and the American way.

If you’re unsure how to change your perspective, try this exercise. Place two chairs apart from each other, facing the same scene. Sit in one - what do you see? Now go to the other. What do you see now? Notice the differences from each point of view, and also notice the things that are the same. They coexist, each from a slightly different perspective. We can do the same!

Start by teaching love and understanding in your own home and then branch out into the world. Try to seek common ground; there’s much more of it than we tend to realize. We just need to take the time to get to the heart of it.

I have a friend in Nairobi, Kenya. We were accountability partners in a course and often talked about our shared humanity. Through our conversations we realized that our hopes, our dreams for our families and our aspirations for our children were the same. We all want the future to be bright for the next generations - a future filled with health, happiness, opportunity, peace, and above all, love.

We would send peace and love from each of our corners of the planet, out into the world. I hope you too will try changing your own perspective and stretching your arms and heart in the direction of all. Start by extending first to your family, your city, your state, your country, and then out to the entire world.

The Farmer’s Fortune, as told by The Asian Entrepreneur:

Once upon the time there was an old farmer who had worked his crops for many years. One day his horse ran away. Upon hearing the news, his neighbors came to visit. “Such bad luck,” they said sympathetically.

“Perhaps,” the farmer replied.

The next morning the horse returned, bringing with it three other wild horses. “What great luck!” the neighbors exclaimed.

“Perhaps,” replied the old man.

The following day, his son tried to ride one of the untamed horses, was thrown, and broke his leg. The neighbors again came to offer their sympathy on his misfortune.

“Perhaps,” answered the farmer.

The day after, military officials came to the village to draft young men into the army. Seeing that the son’s leg was broken, they passed him by. The neighbors congratulated the farmer on how well things had turned out.

“Perhaps,” said the farmer…

Has there ever been a time when an experience has prompted a change in your perspective? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below.