On Perspectives - A box of lenses

Ben Okri once said, “I became a skeptic of one way of seeing the world. And I think it is what started me in my awareness that any worldview is superstitious.” This quote resonates on days when everything seems to be going wrong—work stress, long hours, and overwhelming anxiety can make it hard to find clarity. You might try to gain a better perspective, only to find things becoming more confusing and bleak.

In these moments, it's essential to consider the "lenses" through which you're viewing the world—not your literal glasses, but your mental framework. These lenses represent your values, beliefs, and overall worldview. There's an anecdote about two salespeople who traveled to Africa in 1910. One returned saying the situation was hopeless because none of the locals wore shoes. The other saw a tremendous opportunity because no one had shoes yet. This story illustrates how different perspectives can dramatically change our understanding of a situation.

Just as prescription glasses need regular updates to adjust to changes in vision, our worldview requires constant re-evaluation. This means actively seeking out new and sometimes contradictory information to challenge what we believe. Often, people cling to their established beliefs even when faced with facts that contradict them, choosing the comfort of certainty over the challenge of new insights. It's important to avoid this trap of willful blindness, which our brains are wired to favor for energy conservation.

When was the last time you reassessed your worldview? Think about a situation where you feel stuck. Examine your beliefs about the situation and how they might be contributing to your feeling of being stuck. Find someone who has faced a similar challenge and try to see the situation through their eyes. Consider their mindset, beliefs, and approach. Identify the steps they took and start emulating them, even in small ways. By doing this, you set in motion a chain of actions that, with persistence, can build momentum towards positive change.

This process opens up new possibilities, allowing you to either build on what you already have or create an entirely new path. How would you like that?