They say attitude is everything. I disagree, I think perspective is everything. Perspective determines attitude. How
It is all in how you look at it.
you look at life is based on your personal perspective, which then in turn leads you to your attitude about life. This can be applied to all things I believe.
Let’s take the “Glass Half-Full/Half-Empty” debate as an example. They say if you side with “half-full” you are an optimist, with “half-empty” you are a pessimist. What if you looked at it this way “I can always add more if I need it.” Where does that leave you?
I am a realist, always have been always will be. My motto is “Hope for the best but expect the worst, then you are never disappointed.” That’s my perspective on life. Maybe it was my training while attending an Art college, always looking at different perspectives and angles that tainted how I view life. I see the shadows, vanishing points and contrast that might not be visible to someone else (linear perspective). It effects all aspects of my life.
People often say you should “look to the past to gain a better perspective on the future”. What does that do? It helps you improve and grow, as an individual and as a species. I look at the past and find the lessons that will benefit the future. I say it is all about perspective, even when it comes to how we use perspective. You perspective is set in life generally in your youth, how you see things and interpret things. How thin-skinned you are or how thick-skinned will also influence your perspective. It is how you respond to others or acts, as well as how you choose to treat others and the ways you choose to act.
But this is all just based on my perspective. What’s yours?
Finally I’m reading your blog and I can totally agree with the realist point if view. See my “attitude” of expect the worst puts things in perspective for me.
I guess it’s which came first at this point for me perspective or attitude…….either way they can shape you.
Interesting question – which came first, perspective or attitude. I wonder what others think. I would be inclined to say perspective first, because that can happen before you even understand what an attitude is. Or are people born with specific demeanors that then dictate their attitude? Interesting to ponder.
Nice to see you here and thanks for the comment!
Maya,
I read somewhere that a pessimist is just an optimist with the facts.
Like you I prefer to be a realist which I think we could use more of in our business. Thanks for the article.
Great words Jeffrey! I like that pessimist/optimist line a lot.
And thanks for your comment.
I’m the daughter of a policeman so my views are very black and white. I’m like you, a realist, and usually take things as they come and deal with them right away and get on with things. Can’t stand to worry and wonder and have any more drama in my life than is absolutely necessary. I care what people think of me, to a point, and as long as I’m doing my best I don’t worry about the rest. I don’t like to disappoint people. After the age of 45 and when 50 was staring at me, I began to REALLY look back on my life and almost succumbed to a lot of “shoulda-woulda-couldas and had to slam the brakes on myself. I couldn’t stand the depression! Now I’m over 50 and much more at peace with the past and just use those “mistakes” as reference points to remember where I want to be in my life. You’ve got to be flexible in life and always willing to adapt and change. And you’ve always got to remember that you don’t know what everyone else’s life story is. They might have it much worse than you. Try to “pay it forward” as often as you can and that always comes back to you.
Fabulous Katie! I am proud of you. It sounds like you are in a great place in your life. I call that attitude “owning it”. I feel like you always have to grateful for what you have and where you are in life and remember those that might not have found the same inner peace yet.
Flexibility and adaptability are the keys to sanity I think. And nothing better than “pay it forward”. I like to find opportunities to do little things for other people when they don’t expect it, I find a lot of joy from those acts.
Thanks for the comment Katie, great stuff!