7 Ways to Change Your Life by Changing Your View and Making it New!

Your view defines your reality. How you relate to people, how you handle challenges, the choices you make, and how you live day-to-day are all impacted by your perspective. Your perspective gets formed by your family, education, culture and life experiences. There are as many different perspectives as there are people!

“We don’t see things as they are, we see them as we are.”
– Anais Nin

Changing your perspective is like changing the window through which you view the world. Change the way you look at things and the things you look at will change!

New windows, views or perspectives are a key to innovation and creativity. If you always see or do things the same way then you will keep getting the same results. How can you intentionally look at a situation or set of “facts” differently than your default view?

How to SEE in new ways:

1. Shake it up. We tend to be creatures of habit. Instead of starting your day the same way, walking the same route or reading the same news sites, why not try something new? Open up your neural pathways by breaking out of your familiar patterns. Do something new to see something new!
2. Don’t should on yourself. This is a Holly-ism from our friend Holly Dowling. When you compare, see life as unfair, or wish it was different, you are “shoulding on yourself.” Let the past be in the past and focus on the future that you want to create. There is a reason the windshield in your car is much larger than the rear-view mirror. You can learn from the past by looking back, but your view needs to be forward.
3. MOVE! Pay attention to your body. Reset your nervous system and quickly shift your perspective in the moment with physical activity. Going outside for a walk, exercising or just putting a smile on your face can boost your mood, bring clarity and increase your creativity. A CEO we work with frequently says, “form follows function.” Use movement as a tool to shift your perspective and see things differently.
4. The LONG view. There are many things in life that we are unable to change. But many of our daily dramas are temporary, and while we can’t change the attitudes or behaviors of those around us, we can recognize that the drama doesn’t last any longer than we allow it to. With obvious exceptions, many of the things we allow to agitate us are fleeting and trivial. Ask yourself, “Will this matter in 5 years?”
5. It is what it is!  Speaking of drama, get out of the Dreaded Drama Triangle and take back your power. Remember the serenity prayer? Focus on what is in your power to change. Remember that the two things that are always in your control are your attitude and your effort.
6. Garbage in, garbage out. It takes up to six positive thoughts to counteract one negative thought. Think about the type of content you are consuming and the messaging that you are allowing to subconsciously program your mind every day, as well as the people you spend the most time with. Assess your input and decide if it’s contributing to the future you want to create.
7. ASK more questions. As we frequently say, questions open the mind and answers close the mind. Be an avid collector and asker of great questions. These are questions that go beyond a yes or no answer. They provoke the mind to see things in new ways.

You have the power to change your perspective, see life through a new lens and make your life new with a new view. This works in your personal life and your professional life.