- Mar 11
- 2 min read
Updated: Apr 10
There is a park near my house, lively in the summer with concerts, festivals and family gatherings. Until recently, I thought of the park solely as a place for events. When I decided in January to increase my walks to include the park’s lake, my perspective changed. The shift was slow at first, I was so focused on how many steps I was clocking in. The lake only came to life when I started to bring my 35mm camera. Taking pictures expanded my view from a place to exercise to learning to appreciate an ecosystem.
With camera in hand, the prospect of being surprised stirred my curiosity. I noticed the light on the water, and the patterns of ice. I noticed where the geese hung out and when they were about to take flight. I noticed mating rituals before I thought of spring. I learned to watch for “our” bald eagle on its favorite tree. Clearly the lake was always a hub of activity, only I didn’t see it until I decided to look.
Perspectives are like that. They can be limiting, or empowering. They can feel like mud or a tropical breeze. We believe often that our default perspectives are true. Are they? If they were only partially true, what difference would that make in our approach to life or the narratives we tell ourselves and others?
If you want to challenge a limiting perspective imagine yourself with a camera. You are looking at the situation from different angles. Three minimum. Write down your three alternative perspectives. Be as outrageous as you would like.
Notice:
What feelings surface with each perspective?
Which perspective(s) give you the most hope and energy?
Which one do you want to explore and allow yourself to be surprised?
As with my walks around the lake, many treasures are in plain sight. Safe journeys, Allyson
