Perspective: Climb Higher To See Your Future
Maximum Life: Unlocking Your Full Potential in 2025
Life often presents us with challenges and obstacles that can obscure our vision of the future. However, by gaining a higher perspective, we can see beyond the immediate difficulties and gain clarity on our path forward.
This chapter explores the importance of gaining perspective and offers practical steps to help you climb higher and gain a clearer view of your future.
The Power of Perspective
Perspective is the ability to view life from a broader lens. It invites us to step back from our immediate circumstances and grasp the bigger picture. With a higher perspective, we recognize that our current challenges are often temporary, and with the right mindset, they can be overcome. Just as the view deep within a forest contrasts with the expansive sight from a mountaintop, shifting our perspective can change how we perceive our journey.
Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV encourages us to trust in God’s perspective:
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”
We must remind ourselves that God, being outside the limitations of time and space, doesn’t just see from the top to the bottom but also from the beginning to the end of a matter. He sees it all!
Gaining Perspective
To gain perspective, we need to rise above our current situation and look at it from a higher vantage point. Here are some practical steps to help you gain perspective:
Take a Step Back: When faced with a challenge, take a step back and distance yourself from the situation. This can help you see things more clearly and objectively. As Wayne Dyer said, “If you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.” [1]
Seek Counsel from Others: Talk to trusted friends, family members, or mentors who can provide a different viewpoint. Sometimes, others can see things that we cannot. Helen Keller wisely noted, “Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.” [2]
Reflect on Past Experiences: Consider past experiences where you have faced similar challenges. Reflecting on how you overcame those obstacles can provide valuable insights and confidence.
Practice Mindfulness: Mindfulness involves being present in the moment and observing your thoughts and feelings without judgment. This practice can help you gain clarity and perspective on your current situation.
Pray for Guidance: If you are a person of faith, pray for guidance and wisdom. Ask God to help you see your situation from His perspective. James 1:5 NIV advises, “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.”
1. Wayne Dyer, “If you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.” Accessed July 10, 2024. https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/wayne_dyer_384143
2. Helen Keller, “Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.” Accessed July 10, 2024. https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/helen_keller_382259
Excerpted from Maximum Life: Unlocking Your Full Potential Through Inner Growth, Momentum, And Impact by Iann Schonken at Amazon.com.