How to Shift Perspective

Being able to shift perspective is a valuable skill in certain circumstances to support looking at a situation differently, to find a more constructive solution or approach, be more effective, save time, not go into over analyzing, over thinking or down a negative rabbit hole. This process could be useful to implement on yourself, and if it works well for you, it can be used on others if they are stuck, maybe more importantly if they are open to it.

1.       Notice

Noticing when there is a need for a shift is the first action, it is quite easy to go in circles, being aware of yourself is the initial step and can break the cycle. This could be noticing your thoughts, language or reactions. There could be a more negative approach to the situation, a lot more “should”, “need”, “must” or “have to”  language being used or just not acting in a way that feels authentic to you.

If you are working with someone else on noticing, stating and inquiring about what you are hearing or seeing verbally can support someone noticing it themselves and to put forward their perspective.

2.       Step back

There are several ways of taking a step back to gain perspective. It could be literally taking a step back or change of scenery for a bit, if that is possible. It could also be a small as pausing, taking a breath, even stating what you notice or looking at things from a big picture or more strategic perspective (it is easy to get caught in the small details and get lost in them).

Gratefulness is another strategy to help shift to a more thankful or optimistic mindset which can be a helpful shift, especially when things are outside your control, this is also a practice which you can do when things are going well and not so well, which supports resilience.

If it is a situation involving another person, thinking about how the other person could be viewing things from their perspective, i.e. in their shoes, can help shift into a broader way of looking at the situation, sometimes with more compassion for the other person and could even come to a better solution through that.

3.       Reset

To reset or shift your perspective, now there is a bit of distance, try asking yourself (of the other person) the below:

-          What is important about this?

-          What values are showing up or being challenged?

-          What is another way of looking at this?

-          How do you want to respond to or think about the situation?

This process can be used again or multiple times especially during a more stressful period, it is a practice and takes time, with that practice, shifting perspective can become more natural and less effort.

What do you want to think about differently right now?