Motivation Mondays: PERSPECTIVE
“Everything we hear is an opinion, not a fact. Everything we see is a perspective, not the truth.” Marcus Aurelius
Motivation Mondays: PERSPECTIVE – Groynes Baltic Sea via Gaderinge.com
When you wake up every day, you have two choices. You can either be positive or negative; an optimist or a pessimist. I choose to be an optimist. It’s all a matter of perspective. Harvey Mackay
A great teacher I studied with used to say,”The world is as you see it.” We come into the world with our DNA and other hereditary markers that contribute to who we are and who we might become. My markers align me with the capacity to do certain things and even to accomplish certain goals if I put my mind and action behind it. I can commit to follow my passion and achieve my definition of success in the field of my choice. One thing I can’t do is follow YOUR passion with the same zeal and success level. For this week’s Motivation Mondays post on PERSPECTIVE, I’ve included some inspirational stories, some are humorous, to elucidate the power of PERSPECTIVE. Contemplate the stories. Meditate on them. “Meditation is the soul’s perspective glass.” Owen Feltham. If you have any inspiring stories that speak to you, do share, I’d love to read them.
A STORY: What The Blind Men Saw
Four blind men were taken on an outing to a game reserve. Upon arrival, they began to quibble about the logic of taking them out of their comfort zone. One of the tour guards, a very wise man named Babu, had an idea. “Follow me, I will introduce you to Jambi, our friendly and smart elephant.” The men calmed down and, with the aid of the guards, followed him. Once they entered Jambi’s quarters, Babu instructed the blind men to come closer and meet Jambi. They did. He then instructed them to explore and discover what the elephant would look like if they could see.
The first blind man felt the elephant’s leg and shared that it must look like a pillar. The second blind man touched the elephant’s stomach tummy and said the elephant must be a huge wall. The third blind man caressed the elephant’s ear and proclaimed it was a piece of burlap cloth. The fourth blind man was bursting at the seams laughing hysterically at the presumed ignorance of his fellow blind men. He was eager to share his discovery and soon started shouting. “Are you stupid? How could say the thing before us is a pillar, a wall or even cloth?” He held onto the elephant’s tail and, with great flourish, described the elephant as a piece of rope. Soon a new argument ensued. Babu interrupted them, and in a calm voice said: “Each of you touched the elephant, and each of you gave a different description of the animal. Which answer is right?” The four men fell silent.
“Perspective is everything when you are experiencing the challenges of life.” Joni Eareckson Tada
Motivation Mondays: PERSPECTIVE – Komehakubutsukan passage via Wikipedia
It’s not only moving that creates new starting points. Sometimes all it takes is a subtle shift in perspective, an opening of the mind, an intentional pause and reset, or a new route to start to see new options and new possibilities. Kristin Armstrong
Wherever you go, there you are. The world we inhabit is shaped by our perspective, and we can choose to do more or less with what we have. We take all of who we are with us. We can choose to squash that singing, writing, dancing, cooking, mothering gift we have for some other highfalutin goal; that is a choice we make. But let me warn you that while there are things we can learn anew and goals we can accomplish with great effort, it is a FALLACY to believe that we can be ANYTHING we want. Yes, I repeat, it’s a fallacy. We can accomplish plenty based on our inherent talents, skills and our effort, but not anything/everything. Can YOU become an astronaut? If you have a propensity for science and always dreamt of being an astronaut, go for it. I, on the other hand, have no desire to go to the moon or to become an astronaut. From my perspective, I can dream the universe from the comfort of my meditation mat. I’m happy with that perspective and happy for you with yours. We must learn to respect our own perspective; they help motivate us because, wherever we go, we take our views with us.
A STORY: Wherever You Go, There Goes Your Baggage
Two newly hired, young men, met on a train ride to a new town. They chatted for a while and soon discovered they were relocating to the same place. They both wondered if they would be happy in the new town. Each of them had left friends and family behind and were eager to start afresh. When they arrived, they were escorted to the Town Hall to gather information and submit their paperwork.
The Town Hall supervisor, a revered zen master, welcomed both men and gave them all the information they needed. As they were ready to leave, one of the young men asked a question: Do you think I will like it in this town? Are the people nice? The master replied: How were the people in the town you came from?
“They were nasty and greedy, they were angry and lived for cheating and stealing,” said the young man.
The master replied: “Those are exactly the type of people we have in this town!”
The second young man was astonished and proceeded to ask the same question: Are you sure about the people in this town? Are the people not nice? Again, the master replied: How were the people in the town you came from?
“They were sweet and lived in harmony, they cared for one another and for the land, they respected each other and they were seekers of spirit,” the second young man replied.
Without missing a beat, the master replied: “Those are exactly the type of people we have in this town!”
“You must look within for value, but must look beyond for perspective.” Denis Waitley
Motivation Mondays: PERSPECTIVE – Fushimi long tunnel of torii gates via Gaderinge.com
I’m just thankful for everything, all the blessings in my life, trying to stay that way. I think that’s the best way to start your day and finish your day. It keeps everything in perspective. Tim Tebow
What does respecting our/my perspective mean? It means that my perspective (yours too) has tremendous value because it is what motivates me to act. My beliefs, experiences, interests, skills and desires, inform my decisions. I know what I’m capable of, what gets my attention and juices flowing, and I can test my limits all I want. But one thing I know is that I have zero interest in becoming an astronaut or ….. X (whatever else that might include). And the same goes for each of us. We can fantasize all we want. Take all the classes we wish. Ask all the questions we could possibly think of, and then, we must sit in a quiet space and empty our heads of all that stuff. To become fully who we truly are, we must empty our cups of everything; including our beliefs around our strengths and our weaknesses. So when we plan our goals, we must first ask: What Motivates ME? What AM I passionate about? What MUST I do to get ME there? Then we must be silent before we act on it.
A STORY: First Empty Your Cup
During the Meiji era (1868-1912), a Japanese master, Nan-in, welcomed a local university professor into his home. The professor was curious to learn more about the path of Zen.
Nan-in offered him a comfy seat and proceeded to prepare tea for the guest. They chatted for a while and Nan-in patiently answered endless questions. When the tea was ready, he served the professor a cup. He poured tea into the cup until it was full, and then kept on pouring more and more tea. As the teacup overflowed, the professor was stunned. He watched Nan-in until he could no longer restrain himself. “It is overfull. No more tea can go in!”
Nan-in smiled and then said: “Like this cup, you are full of your own opinions and speculations. How can I show you Zen when you refuse to empty your cup?”
The details for Motivation Mondays are below. Join in! The themes for January are:
01/05 – Silence
01/12 – Perspective
01/19 – Communication – Honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.,
01/26 – Comfort
02/02 – Attitude
More Below!
Faith gives you an inner strength and a sense of balance and perspective in life. Gregory Peck
Motivation Mondays: PERSPECTIVE – Berlin Olympiastadion via Wikipedia
Sometimes we may ask()for success, and receive physical and mental stamina. We might plead for prosperity, and we receive enlarged perspective and increased patience, or we petition for growth and are blessed with the gift of grace. We may develop conviction and confidence as we strive to achieve worthy goals. David A. Bednar
Another great teacher I studied with always said; “Treat praise and blame the same.” When we allow our perspective to be swayed by the winds of every change, we don’t allow ourselves time to think about our own perspective and how that impacts our lives. Always being a YES Man/Woman is not a healthy approach to life because it forces us to negate our truth. We can say YES to life, but not yes to every point of view on the planet. What do you stand for? Is it fair? Is it helpful? Is it elevating to humanity? If your answer is YES to all three then go for it. If not, pause, reflect and consider the Perhaps approach…
I love quotes, human psychology and the philosophy of life; I write about those topics because they give me joy and stoke my passion for learning. I love books, fashion, food, health and wellness, music, gadgets and lots of other things and write about them on this blog sometimes. But I always come back to what fuels my fire. Don’t be a second-rate X. Follow YOUR dream and passion; that is where your power and success lie. And then, when things are tough, you’ll remember to use the Perhaps Perspective story below. Now, go read it and stay motivated for the things that truly matter to you.
A STORY: The Perhaps Perspective
In the old days, when donkeys and horses were the only means of transportation, an old, hardworking farmer lost his only horse. The horse saw an open gate and ran away. When his neighbors in the small village heard the news, they paid a visit: “Such bad luck,” they all said, with heavy, sad faces.
The farmer looked at them and said: “Perhaps.”
A few days later, the horse came back with a group of other wild horses; their presence immediately increased the farmers livestock. The news spread quickly and the neighbors came round: “How wonderful!” they said joyfully.
“The farmer nodded his head and said: “Perhaps.”
The following week, the farmer’s son fell off one of the wild horses and broke his leg. Because they were in a remote village, he had to wait a week to get it fixed. He was in great pain. Again, the nosy neighbors weighed in with an opinion: “What a pity…” they said in sympathy.
“The farmer simply said: “Perhaps.”
Three days later, news of a war spread as military recruiters rode into town to conscript young men into the army. They knocked on the farmer’s door and when he opened it, they pushed their way in asking for his son. The farmer pointed them in the direction of his moaning son and informed them of the boy’s broken leg. They left without further ado. The neighbors gathered to share tales of their conscripted sons and congratulated the farmer on his son’s good fortune.
The farmer, who was a stoic man, again replied: “Perhaps.”
Motivation Mondays is open to anyone who wishes to share a motivational quote, photo, personal challenge or a post that encourages others to start the week on an upbeat note.
Basic Instructions: Each week, I will have a motivation word to help us create a response. (See listed words for end of November and all of December below)
Email address: You may email or share your post as a comment and I will add it to the round-up of related posts. email it to: contact(@)mirthandmotivation(.)com
Category tag: – Share your post using Motivation Mondays
Twitter hashtag: – Use this on Twitter #MotvnM
Dedicated Page: There is a dedicated page for Motivation Mondays. It has the same instructions and will include other helpful tools and a link to the round-up
Facebook Page: MotivationOnMondays Join our page and add your post and/or any motivational piece you think will be helpful to others.
Facebook Community: We have a Facebook community forum to compliment the page. It serves as another way to share uplifting posts and thoughts. Please join in and add your voice.
Badge: – I created a fun badge using PicMonkey’s free photo editing tools. You can create your own, use WordPress’ integrated tool on your blog or you are welcome to use mine. (see dedicated page)
Tag: – Motivation Mondays
Hashtag: – #MotvnM
Positive Motivation Tip: Focus on what works best for you. My perspective might be great for me, but only until you test it, might it be great for you.
Related Posts
- Motivation Mondays: SILENCE (mirthandmotivation)
- Motivation Mondays: Regrets (mirthandmotivation)
- Motivation Mondays: Joy! (mirthandmotivation)
- Motivation Mondays: Compassion (mirthandmotivation)
- Motivation Mondays: The Busy Busy Trap (mirthandmotivation)
- Motivation Mondays: Forgiveness (mirthandmotivation)
- Motivation Mondays: Acceptance (mirthandmotivation)
- Motivation Mondays: Courage (mirthandmotivation)
- Motivation Mondays: Dream (mirthandmotivation)
- Motivation Mondays: CHANGE (mirthandmotivation)
- RIP Zig Ziglar: King of Motivation… (mirthandmotivation)
- Reflections: Be The Change… (mirthandmotivation)
PHOTO CREDITS/ATTRIBUTIONS: All Photos: Groynes Baltic Sea, Fuji Japan, via Gaderinge.com. Focal Length GIF, Berlin Olympiastadion, Komehakubutsukan via Wikipedia
Until Next Time…
Ask. Believe. Receive. ©
Elizabeth Obih-Frank
Mirth and Motivation
Positive Kismet
Trackbacks
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I like this! I need motivation on Mondays!
I agree. I need to wake up in a more positive attitude especially before coffee.
This is a great motivational review. It is very important for a teacher to be able to motivate their students. Parents also must motivate their children. This is not always an easy task and not every student or child is motivated by the same things.
Jambi is a wonderful story and lesson.
Glad you liked it… Hahaha! 🙂
Another great motivational post i will be sharing this one. Perspective and and using it in life is definitely the key to a positive path in life xx
Perspective is indeed important as it changes the situation you’re in always. It’s also a good practice in photography, as new angles are often refreshing. 🙂
Perspective is really everything. It’s all in the way that you look at certain things in certain situations.
This is a great post. I really like your Positive Motivation Tip. I look forward to your next post.
What a great post. I love all the little stories. Thanks for the great read!
I always love reading your Monday Motivations, Eliz. It is almost like having a mini meditation reading what you share. It makes me think and look within. Thank you for sharing this. I realize I have the power within me to see the world from a better brighter perspective and be grateful for this life I have.
I have thought a lot about perspective. I really believe your perspective is heavily influenced by who you are as a person. That’s why perspective can be similar but never 100% the same as somebody else.
What a great post, awesome for any day of the week but especially on Monday. All your quotes made me take a moment of reflection, but the one that really stood out was the first one by Marcus Aurelius. Dude. Powerful. And the tea cup story was such a great reminder for me. Thanks for posting!
This is such a wonderful post and very insightful! These are a lot of stories with very meaningful messages and I absolutely love them all! Thank you for sharing this 🙂
Life is too short for negative vibes. 🙂 Stay motivated!
Our perception in life differs but we are one in every aspect of love. Perspective in human beings comes before wisdom, faith and intelligence. We can have just use our passion in one whole direction. Fernando Lachica
Thank you so much for sharing this inspiring article! All the pictures brought me inner peace too – I would love to gently cross that Groynes Baltic Sea, it looks so serene. <3
Sometimes it helps my decision making ability to hear someone else’s perspective on something. It’s easy to get caught up in your own ego.
I think another part of our perspective is our biases, realized or unrealized. They color our perspective at such a deep level. Each of these stories illustrates how we can all see the same thing, but interpret it differently, and becoming aware of others’ perspectives and their own biases can provide great insight into their motivations.
The Zen story is particularly poignant, though.
Perspective is all dependent on you – if you’re happy or unhappy about your life, it’s all because of how you see things and deal things. Our outlook in life has a huge impact on us, the moment we wake up. Suffering, happiness, and all other emotions are mostly dependent on how we see things.
Love the photo first of all! Your posts are always so thought-provoking. Thanks for ending my nights with these posts.
My perspective lately has been through tunnel vision. I was put on bed rest last week until April when my baby is due. I can’t wait to get up and move around, I’m so bored already.
We usually say, “Each one of has his/her own perspective” and often, our perspective speak a part of who we are as a person. We are being told that we should surround ourselves with people who has a positive perspective in life rather than those who don’t to avoid stress and all that but I beg to disagree. If we stay away from this people, who else will help them? We should even be encouraged to be around them to uplift them rather than opt them out in our lives. Do you agree?
That is your perspective. Hence the whole point of this post!
Perspective is everything!!! If you have a positive perspective life is so much better when things are going wrong even. Love this topic!
I think that how we see the world is affected by how we are brought up, by our emotions and experiences. It’s the same like you see a half empty glass while other see a half full glass of water. In the end though, you have the choice to which you would rather want to see. I chose the former.
This is an awesome post and I do believe life is what you make it because it is different for us all. This is a great lesson with these stories. Indeed a great post. Thanks for sharing.
True. We all have different perspectives. We see certain things in different ways. In a discussion ( argument, even), we need to understand other people’s perspective to reach a compromise or a resolution. -katrina centeno
I loved this post!
I agree that perspective dictates the way we see things and that we can choose in which perspective we look at things. Love the quote “People tend to seek happiness but happiness is actually a choice”. Try to remember this everyday.
Thanks for sharing and I believed to follow your dreams! what ever happen focus and believe 🙂
“What The Blind Men Saw” is truly amazing.
Thanks for sharing and I believed to follow your dreams! what ever happen focus and believe.
The older I get, the more I try to look at things from a different perspective. Especially when it comes to my family and how some handle different situations. I always think I’d handle it differently, but then again….I’m not in their shoes. Maybe I’d handle things the same way that they do at times.
I agree with Russ. Also wake up with a positive attitude and you’ll notice as life goes on thing will get better. Why? Because the positiveness will reflect on your face, posture and your whole demeanor. You will then attract positiveness.
Perspective really is the key to a happy life!! Change your perspective and you can change your life!!!!
Thank you for your motivation Monday perspective. Great tips and I always try to focus on what works best for me.
As they say, happiness is a choice. I always choose to be optimistic and I stay away from negativity.
I love Motivation Monday. I could always use a reminder. It’s easy to get caught up in life and forget to stop and be grateful
The story I liked most is the second one. Honestly, the way you see a person is the way you CHOOSE to see the person. It’s your perspective to see the more negative qualities so that’s what you see, and vice versa.
I so enjoyed reading this and wish I had one of those characteristics within reach. Thank you for the introspection.
Perspective is on you, but can often be influenced by others if you let it. While some things are sad, its how to react to that which can make all the difference. If you choose to handle it and be happy, then happiness will follow.
Your perspective is what you make it. I can make you happy or sad!
I love to try and see things in different perspective. Im a very what if kind of person. always looking for the best way to handle situations.
i love reading your posts, they’re very unique and inspirational. Thank you so much for sharing 🙂
I agree. Hard work and determination can take us very far, but there are limitations. I think the key is to be realistic and work around those limitations in a thoughtful, purpose-driven manner.
There is a phrase that says: “Whatever happens around you, don’t take it personally… Nothing other people do is because of you. It is because of themselves.” I believe everybody owns and create their own perspective. Therefore, their actions or their thoughts are based on their thinking, their perspective, and it has nothing to do with you. If we think of a positive life, we must certainly will life a happy, positive life!
I’ve never thought you could be anything you want… but I do think you can be anything you need to be. 🙂 I enjoyed the article. Perspective does hold a lot of power.
I just loved this post. Thanks for the motivation and inspiration. I love perspective.
Each one has a different perspective which can be right or can be wrong depending on the vantage point they see things. It’s up to us to weigh each perspective and determine which is best.
What an amazing read! I am full of perspective this week and I know success will come. I am excited for the Communication.
Thanks for sharing. It’s indeed very important to be passionate of what we do.
True perspective in life is all dependent on you – but if you are married to a pessimistic person who always sees the glass half full, you can finally run out of the cheery side of a proper perspective like I did 10 yrs ago. But my hubby seems to be waking up again and things seems to be turning around, so there is always hope.
Faith – yes faith definitely has a great impact on our outlook on life. If we maintain our faith we will make it. But when we slip, we can lose it altogether, or regenerate it and start where we left off rebuilding that faith. Thanks for listening to my 2 cents worth. 🙂
Thank you for taking the time to share them… I appreciate your feedback and they is why we are always advised to keep the company of people who lift us up… I know it’s not always feasible. 🙂
really great post! I need to be more in-tune with my perspective and how it impacts my daily life!
Lovely quote, and a great article! thanks for sharing~
I try to embrace the positive. I am surrounded often with people that try to suck that out of me. “Why are you so happy?” “I’m just a happy person. ” I tell them.
I try to keep a positive attitude. Others around me often try to suck that out of me. “Why are you so happy?” “I am just a happy person”, I reply. Try it sometime.
As always I love your quotes, and as always they make me think
Thank you for your patience Peter! 🙁
These pictures are really amazing. I very much agree that we must focus on what will work best for us. Each week, I am going to look for motivational quote & pictures. Thanks for sharing.
Perspective is how you see things.. Our outlook depends on the things around us. No matter what people say or do.. all things about you depends on you
How very inspiring these stories are. I really like that story about the zen master and learning how to empty your cup. It is really all a matter of perspective. We tend to be confined to our own perspective when there is a whole world of perspectives waiting to be discovered. – Fred
When i look at those pictures and read the descrip underneath, i start to think about all the possibilities and how they are endless.. thanks for that motivation!
Well, we see the world and make our decision based on our perspective in life and also the experiences that we have go through. What is best for me may not be for you so vice versa. That is why we are all unique.
There were days I woke up feeling negative and thinking negative. It’s because I remembered the bad thing that happened a day before. But I tried to focus on what’s more important, the truth and the reason why I breath. Then I feel better.
I truly enjoyed your article on Perspective. It gave me much to think about. Loved your quotes in all of your other article as well.
I love this post. So inspiration–love the great quotes you’ve included. ESp. the Tebow quote!
What a great motivation post and its consider as inspire too. Very nice thanks a lot I had a great time to read this.
I love how positive and motivating your blog is! I actually heard the blind men and elephant story before and its a great story. Perspective is all in how you see this but we have to fight to see the positive in life!
This is so true – context and perspective is everything 🙂
Just found your blog, really like it.
What a pretty photo. We do all see things differently, even when we are looking at the same thing. Communication is important. And a willingness to listen to others.
I could not agree more about everything you hear. I feel like it’s your choice to be offended by what people say.
This is a great post. I really like your Positive Motivation Tip.
This is such a great post! I do miss a bit of perspective from time to time, it’s important to keep that in our mind!
I enjoyed reading the blog. Thank you and the pictures are so peaceful. Makes me wants to jump in. LOL
Reblogged this on Petrichor Twenty One.
Thank you! 🙂
Nice post, I love how you put perception in a perspective.
It is amazing how perspective is everything. Two people can look at the same situation and have totally different reactions or responses, based on their own individual perspectives.
Quite true… the world is how we see it.