The Power of Perspective

A social media post this week caught my attention, it was about perspectives, a grandfather talking to his grandson. This got me thinking about my past when my grandfather gave me advice about the hardest thing to learn is that you do not know everything, be willing to learn something new everyday. It took me some years to understand this fully and it is now something I fully appreciate today.

The post got me thinking about how I learn and one of those ways is to understand another person's perspective, I think it is valuable, but why? Well there are several benefits that come from it, first I have to stop, think and try to see a situation from another’s perspective and second, if I still cannot see what they are saying. I then need to talk to them to help me understand.

Then I get it, can see their point of view, I have learned something and can act on it if need be.

So I have won, learned something, communicated (which means talking and more importantly, hearing what was said, check my understand to find the common ground), empathised with another, made them feel valued and involved, wrestle with a different concept then maybe make decisions or at least further communicate a new concept to others or decide to just do nothing.

All this from allowing myself to see and/or hear a different view.

Can I honestly say all this has been easy? NO

Have I been annoyed with that point of view? YES

Can I say that at times I have seen this as interference? YES

Why? Well we all know what it is like, we have our plan set, our way or the highway, head down churning out the same day in and day out, then some bright spark asks a simple question and I feel I have to stop and consider that, could change everything, could change something, could change nothing, but I had to slow down and think it through.

Do I thank them for their question or different perspective, you bet, because this is the most valuable thing, I have had to consider a different view, and for that I am truly thankful!