What’s your perspective? Are you aware of how you’re perceiving something?
These might sound like simple questions, but there’s a lot that goes into it. Often so much that we don’t even realize.
Our perspective is the lens through which we see the world. Our lens is shaped by the way we grew up, the communities we’re a part of, the messaging we received, our relationships, and so much more. All of our lived experiences fuse together and tint the world to a certain shade, a certain perspective that forms a narrative. This narrative tells us how the world operates and why. This doesn’t necessarily mean it’s true, it’s the story we’re telling ourselves.
As meaning-makers, we humans need to see the world through story. And whether it’s conscious or not, we tell ourselves these stories to help create a sense of safety: if we can “make sense” of it, we feel comforted.
To help ourselves become more conscious about the perspectives we take, we can ask ourselves questions like:
• Is the story I’m telling myself true?
• Where did this perspective come from?
• How might I expand my perspective?
• How is my perspective creating and/or preventing a sense of safety and connection?
• Does my perspective align with the person I want to become?
As you read through the following reflections by trauma therapist Dr. Rebecca Bailey, extreme trauma survivor Jaycee Dugard, horse specialist Margie McDonald, and self-actualization coach Carmen Theobald, consider what “perspective” means to you.
Horse Sense North is the Canadian Partner to Polyvagal Equine Institute. Carmen regularly contributes to their “Word of the Week” blog posts. Her introductions to those blogs are now available here, through the Horse Sense North website. To read the full post, click here.
