Just That Simple

What if it's just that simple? What if your experience of life actually changes based upon how you choose to see your circumstances, situations and opportunities? What if transformation – real transformation – is nothing more than changing your view of your life? What if personal transformation is simply the outcome of the conscious choices you make about your perspectives on life, relationships, yourself and the world? What if it’s just that simple?

The answer is simple – it IS just that simple. I’m not here to tell you that shifts in perspective are easy or hard. Easy and hard will depend on how deeply rooted your old perspectives are, how motivated you are to make the shifts, and whether you’re willing to let go of your old ways of thinking, “seeing” and experiencing the world and your life. I speak from personal experience in saying that in any moment, situation or experience I can instantly – yes, like a snap of your fingers – shift how I see what’s happening around me (or to me). And just as fast, the moment, situation or experience changes right before my eyes. It IS just that simple.

If you’re thinking this is about having a positive attitude, you’re wrong – it’s much greater and simpler than that. Seeing something as a setback, obstacle or negative outcome and then trying to make yourself have a positive attitude about it rarely works because it's difficult (if not impossible) to force yourself into an attitude or feeling. What I’m talking about is fundamentally shifting how you see or experience everything. I read some time ago that personal transformation is going from one way of being to another way of being. While there’s some truth in this, I’ve discovered that transformation is more about going from one way of seeing to another way of seeing – and when I do, my circumstances, outcomes and experiences change.

In the beginning, these perspective shifts will take awareness, intentional effort and conscious practice. However, over time the shifts can become natural and habitual so that you unconsciously make the shifts – in fact, you will actually see things differently without needing to consciously shift your perspective. Here are just a few examples of the perspective shifts that are now natural for me in everyday experiences.

• In the process of getting my house ready to sell, the furnace wasn’t working properly. I prudently had it inspected and learned that there were cracks in the unit that created a risk of carbon monoxide leaking into the house. Without hesitation I thanked the inspector and was grateful to have discovered this safety issue, which necessitated me purchasing a new furnace for the house. At no point did I have any negative feelings about having to invest extra money in the house that I’m getting ready to sell.
• I recently had a setback on my leadership path in an organization that I’m heavily involved with and, while I was disappointed in the outcome, I immediately shifted into asking myself what I need to learn from this experience.
• On Thanksgiving day, I spent the day alone until my son joined me later in the afternoon for a meal and to watch football. I never thought about being alone until other people said, “I’m sorry you were alone most of the day.” Feeling alone had never crossed my mind because I was naturally enjoying the quiet time and looking forward to spending time with my son.
• When I recently missed a flight and had to rent a car to make the six-hour drive home, a friend told me that they were sorry that I had to make the drive, and I immediately told them that it was a gift because it had given me the opportunity to connect by phone with a close friend.

This is more than making lemons into lemonade – it’s about just drinking the lemonade that’s already in front of me. This is more than a positive attitude – it’s about seeing things differently. This is about true transformation because when you shift your perspectives, the lenses through which you see the world, you change what’s in front of you. Things are not what they are – things are how you choose to see them.

Earlier this year I had the opportunity to see the Broadway show Kinky Boots, and in the finale there’s this line: “[You] change the world when you change your mind.” I agree, and likewise, you change the world when you change your perspective. If you want transformation (different results and outcomes in your life), then start with yourself. Are you willing to shift your perspectives? Are you willing to let go of your version of what things are and what they mean? Are you uncomfortable enough now to change things for the future? After all, it’s just that simple!

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