Shake Up Your Life: Change Your Own Perspective
- Bhumi N Deshpande
- Aug 30, 2022
- 3 min read
"Why is the word 'small' bigger than the word 'big? " , my friend asked me one day.
I fell silent for a few seconds. "Well, let's just focus on their use, not their spelling. Anyways, that's more important", I replied. The conversation continued for a while and then we got busy talking about other things.
But soon after, I suddenly got reminded of her question. I thought of it for some time.
Curious to know what others would answer to it I asked the same question to a set of people.
At the end of my survey, I could not find a particular reasoning for it, but I noticed how everyone had a different response to it.
I realised how differing, perspectives can be.
So, let's talk about perspective!
Different people had a different answer to the same question. Quite interesting!
But even more interesting was how I could not categorize the answers as right or wrong. It was how they thought about my question that influenced their answer.
But what exactly is perspective?
The difference between a mountain and a molehill is perspective. - Al Neuharth
So in the most simplest words it is 'how someone thinks about something.'
Do you know?
Our perspectives can even harm us and put us into undesirable circumstances.
And changing them can also work wonders!
A very famous story 'The Crying Lady' explains this beautifully.
As the story goes, there once lived an old lady in small village. Such was her sorrow, that there was no hour when she would not cry. Anyone who visited her would always find her crying. So, she was called "The Crying Lady' by the villagers.
Once a monk was passing by the village, when he heard the lady cry. The people told him about how they had never seen her without tears.
The monk went to the lady and in a soft voice said,"Don't cry endlessly like this. Share with me your problem; maybe I can be of some help."
The lady looked up and said," I have two daughters. The first one is married to a noodle vendor and the second one, to an umbrella seller. You see, when the days are sunny, I cry in the sorrow of my second daughter, for she won't be able to sell any umbrellas. And when it is rainy, I cry in the sorrow of my first daughter, for she won't be able to put out noodles for drying and may face disruptions in the business. Now tell me. What can I do? "
The monk smiled and said," One cannot control, when the sun will shower it's rays on the earth. Nor can one control when, the clouds will pour down rains. But one thing that you can control is your perspective."
The villagers and the lady listened carefully.
"This is the only thing you need to do. You see, when it is sunny, think of your first daughter. Think of how she will be able to lay out noodles for drying under the rays of the sun and her business would flourish. On the days it rains, think of how your second daughter would be
able to sell more and more umbrellas, and would prosper."
The lady followed the monk's advice. And in no time, the difference was noticeable. The lady was always happy now. Be it sunny or rainy, she smiled in the happiness of one of her daughters.
From then on, she was called 'The Smiling Lady' !
An amazing story, isn't it?
But wait. 'The monk helped the lady. Who will help me? Who will tell me, in what ways I should change my perspective?'
Do you have this question?
Well, I have an answer!
You have to be the monk for yourself ( If you can be like the monk for others that'd be great!).
The lady is like your mind. You have to control it. You have to bring it back on track if it drifts away.
The situations, the problems are not in your hands. But your perspective is!
So it's on you to decide, what you want to make of your mind.
The Crying Lady OR The Smiling Lady..
That's what I have for you today. Hope you find it helpful.
What was your take-away from today's blog. Please write your thoughts in the comments below.
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