If there’s such a thing as objective reality, most of us will never see it.
Perspective is manufactured.
The things we see, the thoughts we think, and the actions we take are not informed by reality – the truth of things.
Instead, they’re informed by our perception of things.
Our perception can be useful, but it’s not necessarily true. There are times when our image of reality & its true contours couldn’t be further apart.
This occurs whether we’re aware of it or not.
This isn’t always a problem. In many cases, complete accuracy is less important than directional alignment, congruence with your general worldview, and simply freeing up mental resources (ones you’d otherwise waste on pursuing the illusion of certainty) to spend on things that truly matter.
The more effort it takes to figure out what something means, the less we have left for pursuing our own goals.
The world around us, everything that we experience, and the impact made by every other person, living and behaving in whatever manner they feel called to do so – we pick a story about what these things mean and stick to it.
We make our own meaning. We give these things a shape and form beyond their objective impact. In doing so, we reinforce an existing outlook and spare ourselves the navigational hassle of starting from scratch.
But just as there’s a freedom in shaping our perspectives, there’s an inherent danger to it, too – the risk of buying into the story & blinding ourselves to alternatives…
Ones that could help us create better outcomes. At work, in our relationships, and in the way we talk to ourselves.
A simple example:
Labels.
We might possess the tremendous critical thinking capacity, but we’re not immune to bias.
Sometimes, all it takes to nudge us one way or another is as little as a word.
The title doesn’t determine the contents… But it certainly sets the tone.
A book is more than its cover. But the cover still matters.
Framing isn’t everything. But it’s important.
Think of the different feelings these words evoke:
Competitor. Collaborator. Ally. Enemy.
Challenge. Threat. Opportunity.
Obstacle. Roadblock. Hurdle. Milestone.
Stress. Growth. Burden. Asset.
If we don’t like the story, maybe the story isn’t to blame.
Maybe all we need is a better frame – a simpler one.
A more empowering one.
A more “accurate” one (that drops our current baggage and helps us see things in a different light).
Because when we get right down to it…
Better perspective management can lead us anywhere we want to go.