Perspective
There is a silly reality show on Netflix called “100 Humans.” On the show, the scientists put 100 people through a series of social experiments to answer questions about humanity. The experiments are entertaining enough, but one struck me as being relevant to mental health. Two separate groups of people sat in a theater and watched video clips of terrible crashes (cars, bikes, etc). One group listened to the actual audio from the crashes and responded to the videos with shock, with some having to turn away. The second group listened to funny music in the background (think loony tunes). That second group watched the crashes with the mindset that it was funny and laughed out loud as they watched. I found it fascinating that two groups watched the same videos with a different perspective and reacted completely differently!
You’ve probably heard the saying; “your perspective is your reality.” Think about the situations in your life that seemed tense, frustrating, boring, exciting… How much of the experience was based on your expectation? If you’re heading to the airport for a flight, what are you expecting at the airport? Do you dread the lines, the crowds, and the setbacks? Or do you enjoy talking to new people, give yourself plenty of time, and notice the hard work airport personnel provide? Do you marvel in the fact that you are defying gravity and flying through the sky or complain about legroom on the plane? In moments like these you can ask yourself, is it helpful to be angry about this? The awareness of being in a healthy headspace is more than half the battle, and can be liberating!
Curiosity is a profound perspective in our day-to-day experiences. Notice how a small child sees the world with curiosity. To small children, everywhere they go provides an opportunity to experience something new and interesting. Well, what could you explore the next time you go to the office or to the store? You can try meeting someone new or exploring a garden that you walk by every day. Imagine the interesting stories you could hear if you choose to take off the earbuds and talk to the person sitting next to you on the plane, or the bus?
Sometimes, it feels like we’re surrounded by negativity, but the world around us is also full of wonder. We’re surrounded by God’s creation as well as humanity itself. Changing your perspective may require being intentional with gratitude. Set a goal each day to identify one thing that you find interesting, positive, or uplifting. Make it a habit to see the good and who knows, your perspective may create a whole new reality!
