Sometimes I think finding balance in my life is about determining my perspectives or in other words, my points of view.  Over the past six weeks, I have had the good fortune to experience and view life from a variety of perspectives in an array of settings.  From soaring over national park canyons in Utah in a little six seater plane, to hiking around brilliant yellow aspen trees, to swimming among vividly colorful marine life in Caribbean waters, I have seen things from different points of view.  These opportunities have caused me to wonder about the state of my perspectives.

Typically, I am a “Big Picture” kind of gal with my mental point of view…I have been called a visionary by many when I have been part of team efforts. (keep in mind, this is on a local, not a global scale ).  I do relish the aspect of my brain which shifts into that gear of assimilating observations, data and input then ultimately creating a vision of what might be possible. This type of brain activity has served me well through the years.  Yet, sometimes the balance gets skewed. I occasionally miss what is right in front of me, i.e. the actual steps required to accomplish the “Big Picture”. Sometimes, I need to honor the perspective of up close and tending to the details. Sometimes, life requires it.

Yes, this is related to my travels of late.  While I was in awe of the cliff dwellings of Mesa Verde from a wider view, the balance of really reaping the benefits of this perspective required a shift in point of view to close examination of the placement of my feet up a 32 foot high ladder. As I focused on this point of view, the ladder construction and its sturdiness relieved any anxiety I had regarding getting to the place of the broader view. Similarly, looking up at the stars over the ocean, considering the vastness and my place in the universe is right up my alley.  But when I narrowed my focus to closely discern manta rays amid the shifting sand in the waters below me as I snorkeled, I felt gratitude witnessing the grace of their movements. I felt the the benefit of shifting perspective from broad to narrow and detailed.

Up, down, under, over, left, right, inside, outside, above, below, half empty or half full – there are a multitude of perspectives – unique to each of us.  Perspective can relate to my physical point of view from where I am standing, sitting or lying down, but perspective also relates to my state of mind. For example,when viewing a challenging situation, do I see just the negatives or do I look for the possibilities …the proverbial – making lemonade out of lemons.  Am I willing to look at the situation in the broader vision when it doesn’t serve me to get mired in negative nitty gritty?  Or am I missing the opportunity to really create the vision, if I would only pay enough attention to the details and steps along the way in order to make it a reality? Shifting of perspective from my “default” mode, leads me, I believe, to a more balanced life.

In my recent travels, the matter of perspective really gave me pause, as I realized I get to choose my point of view.  It may seem a default setting at first, but with awareness, it’s changeable.   We can all do this.  When was the last time any of us, bent over like a little kid and looked at the surroundings upside down?  Or crawled on the floor like a baby, seeing the world from that perspective? The possibility is there to notice what hasn’t been seen before.  While I am not necessarily advocating crawling around the floor (tho downward dog in yoga can provide a new view) In any situation, it is worth taking a pause, and asking myself, what is my perspective or point of view?

Consequently, did the point of view create wonder, awe, appreciation or gratitude or did it create frustration, anger, loneliness or sense of lack?  Being mindful enough to pause and check in…is my perspective the big picture or up close and personal? Is it providing an opportunity to see what might be possible? Or is it seeing just one narrowing aspect?  It’s my choice whether or not to have a certain perspective or maintain it. I believe the potential is always there to shift perspective either physically or mentally. Does it fit into my field guide for a thriving life?

Ultimately, it’s a matter of perspective.  

Barbara