Have you ever looked at something from a slightly different viewpoint? I was talking to my mum last summer and said that I really liked the tree in my garden and the little corner I usually sit in (underneath said tree), but when I look at the whole garden from that corner, I can see the garage needs some work and the shed that I’m (still) halfway through getting rid of. She suggested I sit with my back to the garage.
This was something I wasn’t too keen on – in my head, I’d be in the direct sun for longer and there’s sometimes a bit of a draft going through that part of the garden. Plus, I’d be nearer the garage I disliked so much. But I tried it anyway and liked it so much, I spent quite a lot of time there.
It’s interesting that something I’d dismissed before I’d even tried it, turned out to be such a good idea! I wondered how often this has happened and realised it was a LOT. It also paved the way for me challenging myself to looking at other things in different ways. Sometimes it’s easier than others.
Sometimes, it’s only by doing the thing that you realise all your preconceptions were exaggerated or even completely wrong! When I walked the Camino de Santiago in 2019, I assumed I wasn’t going to finish it. Even while I was doing it, I wasn’t convinced I’d finish it until I was over halfway.
Looking back on it, although it was challenging, it was nowhere near the arduous trawl I’d expected it to be. I thought I’d be alone, that I wouldn’t really make any friends beyond saying hello to the odd person and certainly wouldn’t share some of the deepest connections I’ve had with people. That was so far from the case! In fact, the person who said hello to me the day before we both started, I ended up walking with that first morning, not seeing her for the rest of the time, then we walked the last couple of days together.
Often though, a different perspective comes in the form of something that someone else says to you. Most of my aha moments have come when something I’ve heard before finally sinks in. I remember someone saying to me when I was quite young that it’s better to regret something you have done, than something you haven’t.
I always remember that and I know it’s popped into my mind a lot, but it didn’t really sink in until it came to me leaving my job. I look back on the years of unhappiness when I knew I no longer wanted to be there but couldn’t bring myself to take a chance. I’ve had to do it again recently and this time, I’ve left without much of a safety net, except that I know it’s the right thing to do.
Another new perspective I came across when leaving that job was listening to what my body was telling me. It was telling me to trust my instincts and look after myself. Move away from an environment that left me feeling unhappy, unheard and frustrated. The step didn’t seem as big this time, more like it was inevitable.
It’s funny how a change in perspective can bring so much of the unseen into view. It’s like moving slightly so you can see round the blind corner of what scares you. When you can see what’s possible all stretched out in front of you, it doesn’t seem so scary anymore. In fact, it becomes exciting.
When I moved my plastic sofa in the garden, I got to admire the tree I like so much, and make the most of the corner that was previously by my side. I had space for a little table next to me and put a lavender plant on it. I enjoyed sitting in my garden so much I spent more time out there. Usually with a Moscow Mule or cold glass of white wine in my hand. I could also see more possibility in my garden, rather than concentrating solely on what was wrong.
Imagine what positivity a different perspective could bring to your view 😊🥂.
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