Come to the Front Porch

I told of an analogy yesterday at the Book Club about perspectives.

Picture 5 different people and one big building. These five people have been positioned in 5 different parts of the building, and have been asked to describe what they see, say, in a drawing. After five hours, they all submitted what they have drawn, and alas, they drew completely different things.

If you weren't there, if you hadn't been given a background story, you'd think there were 5 different buildings based solely on what they drew, but we know better. We know that the building was the same, and there were simply seeing different parts of the same building.

This is the concept called Perspectives. You can see completely different things from different people even though what you guys are looking at is the same. Why? Perspectives — where you are seeing from and what you are focusing on.

This is why two people will look at the same thing, one person will see an opportunity, another person will see an excuse. One person will see a miracle, another person will see an impossibility. One person will see a solution, another person will see a problem.

This is why some people will look at a country and say they can never succeed in the country because of the corruption or because of the harsh economic conditions, and some other people, even with lesser opportunities and resources than them are making their mark and making strides. In the same corrupt country, in the same harsh economic conditions, with lesser opportunities.

This is why some people will never thrive in a company where other people are thriving. This is why some people will never start anything and never be successful at anything because they see excuses where other people are seeing opportunities and exploring them.

Perspectives — What you are seeing, and where you are seeing from.

Perspective is the difference between what you are looking at and what you are seeing. You might be looking at a building and seeing the rear of the building, while someone is looking and seeing the porch of the building. You guys are looking at the same thing, but you're seeing different things because of your position and where you are seeing from.

Truth is, where you are seeing from, the position you have assumed in life is mostly determined by your experiences, culture, beliefs, you name it, but the beauty of this is that all of these things can be unlearned and reformed if they aren't doing you any good.

What are you focusing on? If all you see are excuses, hurt, meltdown, failure, betrayal, sadness, etc., it's because you are looking from the wrong side of the building. How about you shift focus?

Shifting focus and shifting your position is you repenting from thinking that things are happening to you, and start thinking that things are happening for you. It is you shifting focus from "he hurt me, she betrayed me" to "what have I learned from this experience? What will I never do again? What could I have done better? How has this experience made me better?" . It is shifting from seeing failures to seeing progress towards success.

Again, what you see is a function of where you are seeing from. And thank God we have legs! Thank God we can reorientate our minds! Thank God we can change our hearts! We can start now! Remember, you have a superpower!

When you encounter a problem, instead of considering yourself done for, search for the solution, as no problem exists without providing a solution in itself. See problems as opportunities for growth. See betrayals as opportunity to test your strength of character.
Someone once said, if you're praying for strength, your prayers will be answered by opportunities to exercise strength. They won't be pretty!

More than half of our problems in life will be solved if only we leave the rear of the building and come to look from the front porch or from the inside. If only we will change our minds and our attitudes towards what we have and where we are.

You have been pushing off starting that venture because you think you don't have the skill or the tools? Come to the front porch.
You have been looking at that betrayal from a place of pain and hurt? Come to the front porch!

If what you are seeing is not changing the quality of your life, if it isn't pushing you out of your comfort zone to take on responsibilities that will spark growth in you, my friend, change your mental, spiritual, physical position.

Come to the front porch.

To your growth,
Abiola Okunsanya,
Handzinspired. ✨