4 Questions to Help Shift Your Perspective

Shifting your perspective has often been judged as being wishy-washy or not knowing what you want. It’s not something that has been seen as honorable, but in my opinion, it is the most honorable thing we could do.

But shifting our perspectives isn’t something people are good at.

A few years ago I read a story about a snake expert who couldn’t get a man at an expo to believe him about Copperhead behavior. For his entire childhood and adult life, the man's grandfather had taught him certain facts about Copperheads. In the story, he argued with the snake expert saying that his grandfather couldn’t be wrong.

I think this is a perfect example of how firm some perspectives can be. Even with evidence, and in the face of the expert, this man was unwilling to change his perspective because of what he had been taught by someone he trusted.

The same is true for most people in most situations.

Human brains use what they have learned to develop a perception of a person or situation. That perception is based on all of the inputs the brain processes from our 5 senses. Since those 5 senses work to sense the environment, the environments we are in have a significant impact on our perception.

As we all well know, most environments we grow up in (or go to school in) don’t teach us to have an unbiased perception. In fact, we have to teach ourselves how to have an unbiased perception and work to foster an environment conducive to that in our lives each day. Otherwise, we end up with a biased perception that leads us to finding fault with people that are different and the world around us.

However, biased opinions may not be easy to pick up on.

Most of us are naturally surrounded with people who share our own biases. We often bond with others over the biases we have. This makes it even more difficult to see we may need to shift our own perspective.

How to know you need to shift your perspective

There’s only one true way to know if you need to shift your perspective. That answer comes from within. If there’s any part of you, even deep down, that thinks maybe you could be a little less biased, then you need to shift your perspective.

That seems easy enough, right?

Wrong.

Most people aren’t in touch with themselves enough to recognize that feeling. They are so used to their biased being accepted they trudge right through the feeling, not recognizing that something feels a little off. Since this is the case, I think having barometers or catalysts to help you know when you need to shift your perspective are important.

Signs you may need to shift your perspective

These aren’t definitive signs that mean you need to shift your perspective. Instead, consider them signs that you should pause and evaluate whether or not the shift is needed.

- Someone else has told you that your perspective is wrong, hurtful, offensive or outdated.

When this happens it can feel like an attack and anger can make you miss that feeling that tells you to evaluate your ideas or actions. Instead, try to recognize the feeling of being attacked as a sign to think about whether or not you need to shift your perspective.

- You’ve been presented with new information that contradicts your beliefs

In this situation, most people just shoot down new information with the information they have. They glaze over it and don’t think about the value of the information at all. New information is the only way the brain can change the way it develops perceptions so ensuring that you allow the brain to receive new information and process it is the only way to continuously shift your perspective. Instead of combating new information, choose to see it as an invitation to evaluate your perspective.

- When you feel triggered or offended

When you feel triggered, it’s likely something emotional from your past is also triggered. The same is true for when you feel offended, something personal is also triggered in you. When it’s personal, it’s likely your perspective may be a little skewed. Sometimes you may need to see something as harmful when you’ve seen it as helpful or vice versa. Either way, stopping to evaluate whether or not you need to shift your perspective will help you get clarity.

How to shift your perspective

If you’ve decided that you may need a shift in perspective, then you’ll want to know how to do it. The best way I’ve found is by asking myself some questions that can help me see the situation from a different angle. Being able to see the situation (or person) in a different light makes shifting my perspective seem easy.

Of course, it does take practice.

Naturally, once our thought train chooses a track, it will go down it. Usually, by the time we recognize we may need to shift our perspective, our brain has already left the station. The only way to combat this is by getting really good at stopping to evaluate when you see any of the signs you may need to shift your perspective..

Questions to help you shift your perspective

Once you’ve decided to pause and evaluate, ask yourself questions that may help you see the situation differently. For some people this looks like playing the devil’s advocate for themselves, for others it could look more like personal reflection. These 4 questions are questions that work for me and many of the people I work with. You can use them as they are or as a framework for your own questions.

When you’re first getting started with this, it may be most beneficial to stick to a set of questions you always ask yourself until you get in the habit. After you’ve gotten used to it, then you can start changing up the questions. In the beginning the important part is noticing the signs you may need to shift your perspective and getting to the questions.

1. Am I taking this personally?
2. What would have to be happening to me to get me upset enough to act that way?
3. What does it sound like they may need help with right now?
4. How can I respond in a way that will make them and myself feel most supported?

Stopping to recognize when you may need to shift your perspective is a tool that many of us could use more practice with. I see it everyday in comments on the internet, in my clients, and in myself. A shift in perspective is sometimes all it takes to transmute energy - and I think that is beautiful.

It is my sincere hope that these questions help you along your journey.

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If you liked this, you may also like to read this article about a shift in perspective.

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