It's how you look at things. Really, it is!
I know, I know. The whole "glass half empty, glass half full" thing is very cliché, but so true. I have been reminded of it in many different ways recently, some serious and some not so serious.
It's tough being emotionally invested in people. You do it because you care about that person and because by investing in them, you are saying that you see worth in that person. What you don't always expect is how much investing in others affects you. Even one's approach to relationships are a matter of perspective sometimes.
People are quick to judge those who stay in harmful or negative relationships (friendships, dating, marriages, etc) but you don't really know the motivation for people in relationships. You may think you know, but you do not know unless you are in that yourself. Even people who have experienced hurt and pain do not always understand other people's pains and hurts. In the end, we've all experienced some kind of pain, so we should be more understanding. Some people feel that, because they have experienced deep hurts, others who have not in the same way don't understand those feelings of hurt and pain. The circumstances and causes of the hurt and pain may be different, but the basic feelings of hurt and pain are still there for people to experience. How easy it is to forget other's pain and hurt when all we see is our own! It's too easy (and wrong, if I may say) to judge a book by its cover before knowing the real story. Boy, I'm full of clichés tonight! My point is, you never know what's really going on with someone, even if you think you know.
Personality development and types and all that good stuff fascinate me! I've always been interested in it, especially since I took psychology in high school. Lately, a friend and I have taken to discussing the Myers-Briggs personality types because she is determined to figure out what I am! I'm less interested in what I am personally and more interested in the relationship between the different types. Anyways, that being said, that conversation stemmed from our distinct differences in how we approach things. To her, it's about relationships and the emotional value of things. For me, its more about what's logical, factual, and right and wrong. She doesn't like to use right and wrong language and I'm a rule follower. It creates interesting dynamics between us, especially since we play lots of games together!
I don't like the word "starving." For me, it's not the meaning of the word. It's more about the context and perspective that it is used. If you know me at all, you know that I refer to the "children in Africa" a lot. When people talk about starving or ask me if I'm starving, I automatically say no. I'm not starving. I may be hungry, but I'm not starving, especially compared to the children in Africa. It may seem like a sarcastic response, but it makes me stop and think. I cannot really complain of not having food when there are people all over the world who really are lucky if they have one meal a day. I truly mean it whenever I respond to someone with "well, the children in Africa..." I guess, through my "sarcastic answer in disguise" that I hope it will encourage people to pause and reflect, if even for a second, on their situation and realize how bless we are and that there are others in the world that we can help.
Now, for a post on perspectives, I should give you thoughts on perspectives in different perspectives! Cheesy, I know, but I crack myself up sometimes! :)
So, here's a funny perspective on perspective. A friend's status was "You know you are bowling poorly when your goal is for your score to make it at least to the day's temperature! :-)" My immediate response was "Not if you happen to bowl in a place closer to the sun. Then, you'd actually be quite ambitious is your bowling score. :)" That just shows the difference in perspective! The ultimate goal in bowling is 300. I'm convinced only Zeus or something can reach that. :) Anyways, her perspective was that the temperature is a low number compared to the goal in bowling, so she was doing poorly. Another perspective that she didn't have was that the temperature has been so hot that it reached 3 digits, which is higher than normal, so the goal could be a good one! :)
So, in all walks of life and circumstances, it's all a matter of perspective. It's good to look at things different ways. It's important to remember, though, that not everyone is seeing what you're seeing so maybe you need to try looking through different eyes every once in a while!
So I wonder if people around me see things through emotions and relationships or more right and wrong and logic? What's their perspective?
