Perspective | Filed under General
The little troubles and worries of life, so many of which we meet, may be as stumbling blocks in our way, or we may make them stepping-stones to a noble character and to a better place. Troubles are often the tools by which we are fashioned for better things.
Perspective is one of the most important aspects of our lives. How we see things determines more of our happiness our unhappiness, positive or negative feelings, than we might ever imagine. One person’s undebatable obstacle is another person’s stumbling block; what I see as an insult another person may see as a funny joke. The way we react to things is usually a reflection of how we’ve seen them.
We all have troubles. Some of our troubles are easy to work our way through, such as a flat tire–we simply replace the flat. But other troubles, such as the very important meeting that we’ve missed because of the flat tire, seem to be more drastic, and much more important. Maybe we’ll even get fired for missing the meeting, and that would be an awful problem. Or would it?
If we can maintain a healthy perspective, we can see that any obstacle put in our way is there to help us learn and to grow, to develop our character and our ability to help others. After all, once we go through a certain obstacle or problem, we now have experience, and that’s something we can use to help someone else who may be going through something similar. If we look at our problems and obstacles as tests–life tests which help to form us, not tests that try to determine how much we’ve learned–then we can use that perspective to help us to get through them in a way that’s positive and constructive.
A failed relationship will teach us much about ourselves and what we do and don’t like in other people. A job that is difficult and unpleasant will teach us much about what we can and can’t do well, and what we truly enjoy and don’t enjoy doing. A death of a loved one can help us to reflect on what that person meant to us and to appreciate those who are still with us. The list of lessons we can learn from setbacks is endless, of course, but we have to be ready and willing to learn, don’t we?
Here are a few things for you to ponder, Can you think of something that happened to you that was “just awful,” but that turned out to be a positive experience?
What sort of things build most character in us: the positive and easy,or the difficult and sometimes negative?
How would you advise a friend to look at his or her problems?
Do you look at yours in the way that you would advise others to?
Share with us here some of your thoughts so we might all gain from your knowledge or your own experience. This is not just my place but our community so please come in pull up your chair, grab a pen or pencil get comfortable and leave us your thoughts.
As Steve Allen said ” Sometimes things which at the moment may be perceived as obstacles– and actually be obstacles, difficulties, or drawbacks–can in the long run result in some good end which would not have occurred if it had not been for the obstacle. ”
Now don’t forget Life Is Simply Good.
September 14th, 2005 at 4:18 am
When I was fired back in January from my job of a number of years, I was devastated. But it turns out they did me a favor, I was able to spend time with my family like I haven’t in a long time, be there for the birth of my granddaughter, and now I can seek new opportunities in the job field. I haven’t found a job yet, but I have faith that I will find the right job for me.
It turned out it wasn’t such a bad thing after all.
September 14th, 2005 at 7:51 am
You seem to know what I need to hear… thank you once again.
Perceptions are so individual and there are so many other things that can affect our perceptions depending on what’s going on around us when something bad happens.
*LOVE & HUGS* You’re truly an angel here on earth.
September 14th, 2005 at 8:33 am
Every cloud has a silver lining.
September 14th, 2005 at 9:52 am
With eyes opened to the real problem not the perceived problem and hit them head on. But that is 20 years of military thinking. Too bad my youngest daughter did not learn this.
September 14th, 2005 at 10:56 am
Hey! Great post! It’s so much better to read a post yu KNOW has been given some thought.
Great new skin, btw!
September 14th, 2005 at 1:54 pm
I think everyone can look back on a situation in their life and see something that was terrible at the time that later became positive.
For instance, I truly believe if I hadn’t returned to Texas when my ex put me in the hospital, we would not have caught my son’s illness early. I’ve always believed I did the right thing.
September 14th, 2005 at 2:05 pm
Welcome back Vickie! Loving this post, it’s all about “not what life ‘does’ to us, but how we deal with it”. Every single difficult thing we experience has a learning and growing curve in it. There’s always something good out of it.
The worst thing that happened to me was when my late hubby suddenly passed away. I thought I would die of grief…but along the road I began to understand it was actually a GIFT to me. My spiritual life heightened enormously, and many, many wonderful people were placed in my path as a result. I can honestly say that I don’t “regret” any of it, although of course I will always miss him and love him.
Your topics are always so amazing Vickie, thanks!
September 14th, 2005 at 3:19 pm
As you already know, recently life has shown me her ugly side.. AGAIN. But you know what? I think now I appreciate some things more and I have seen things differently. And as I think back, all of the things that at a point hurt me.. made me who I am.
September 14th, 2005 at 4:41 pm
Hey girl, good post! I believe being able to see both sides of a problem will in the end nulify or take some of the pain away!
September 14th, 2005 at 7:53 pm
To many people, perception IS the only truth they know. If we develop the ability to look beyond the visible we can often find the real truth. There is where the real learning experience begins.
Excellent post.
September 14th, 2005 at 8:40 pm
a bad/failed relationship I’ve had teaches me to learn something that i do or do not like from someone, nice outside doesn’t mean that it’s also nice inside. From my work experiences I’ve also learnt the things I like and don’t like to do, then I can decide what kind of things I want to reach, what kind of college I’m going to learn, what I am studying and what I want to be
September 14th, 2005 at 11:44 pm
Beautifully articulated. What more can I say? lol
September 15th, 2005 at 5:58 am
My father always said “It all comes out in the wash; everything happens for a reason.”
As I’ve gotten older, I realize just how right he was. When my X split, I wished I could just die.
But it brought me SO close to my kids. And now, I have my Cheri, a woman such as I have never known… and I love her so…