How would you define perspective?  Out of curiosity, I looked it up on dictionary.com and found that the definitions were related to how we visually see things.

I found this quite odd.  None of the first five definitions addressed what I believe perspective really means.  Coming from a background in construction, I understand how a perspective can be described, as they put it, “a technique of depicting volumes of spatial relationships on a flat surface.”

My idea of perspective had nothing to do with a flat surface.  My idea of perspective is in full 3D and includes all the colors that we can imagine.  Perspective to me, is what how we see the world – our world.

Now that I think about it, maybe their definition of “spatial relationships on a flat surface” is right – at least for many of the people I know.  This is a condition suffered by people all around us.  They see life on a piece of paper.  A one dimensional timeline of being stuck.

How many people do you know that believe that there life “is what it is” and they have no power to change it?  They have resigned from the idea that there is more out there waiting for them and all they have to do is go and get it.

What creates this perspective, or lack thereof?  I think it is simply a lack of understanding and accepting that we do not have the power to create a life that doesn’t work on paper.

Most of us live by some type of list.  It doesn’t matter if it’s electronic or handwritten, it is still our list of things we need to accomplish in a specific time frame.  Most people think their list is helpful.  I think it may be the thing that is holding us back.

When was the last time you had some of these included on your list:

• Reach out to someone I don’t know and make a difference in their life.
• Do something I have never done before because I can.
• Spend the day visiting somewhere local I have never been before.
• Ask a close friend to recommend a book they read, buy it and read it.
• Do something today that pushes me outside my comfort zone.
• Do something today that I have always wanted to do but haven’t.

OK, I think you get the point.  I think that the reason people miss out on so many opportunities in their life is because they are working from a flat piece of paper.

I think your perspective can also be described as your outlook on life.  A few years ago, I changed my perspective.  For a long time, I was working off that flat piece of paper. To be totally honest, sometimes I couldn’t even find the paper.

I still have a list but now I have those things on my list that will move the needle.  There are things that take me out of my comfort zone and things that I have never done before.  This has totally changed my life and yes, my perspective as well.

Now my perspective is not what I need to do, but what is possible for me to do and who I want to become.  My world used to be black and white, with plenty of gray mixed in.  Now it’s full of color and I can’t wait to see what happens next.

So what’s it going to be?  Are you tired of black and white and could use a little color? Changing your perspective is changing your outlook on life.

My challenge and encouragement for you today:  The next time you grab your day-timer, open outlook or just grab that 3×5 card to make a list, add something that you have not included before.

Be your own agent of change and create the perspective you truly want to see, not the one you see on that flat piece of paper!

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Barry Smith www.buildingwhatmatters.com 4/22/13 photo by author