Constricted Perspectives

[LiveYourDream]

It seems to me that more people are getting stuck in constricted perspectives. I get that rage, hurt, betrayal, anger and disappointment, make it hard to open up and see other possibilities again. Trading objectivity to defend one's hurt never served anyone.

Rather than coming out of constriction, regaining objectivity, many seem to channel their rage, hurt, betrayal and anger, into seeking out "evidence" to further convince themselves, and who ever will agree, that their constricted perspective is the real and true perspective. Communicating in absolutes is a common sign among many.

I've done it too. I imagine I will again at somepoint. The important piece to me is always how quickly did I allow myself to get unstuck.

We can get stuck in a constricted perspective, obvious to others, yet not at all to ourselves. To me it's not about taking someone else's word for anything. When others that; you respect, know care about your well-being and are well intentioned, suggest you might not be seeing all, as clearly as you think you are, be willing to let go of what you think you know for a bit. Have the willingness to truly hear their perspective. Then actually check it out and try it on for yourself before deciding and declaring it's value, relevance, or legitimacy.

Sometimes you have no idea what you are missing.

Wisdom comes from empowered awareness not defensiveness.

 

[Serenity]

YES!! This is awesome!

 

[FCB]

This is good insight, it seems like common sense but so many people don't look at things from these standpoints. I think my greatest strength/and often weakness is that I try to always think of things from others perspectives. It makes me a naturally empathetic person, which I think is a good quality but can be abused. I think this type of thinking can be beneficial in all areas of life, the key is to try to be open minded to different methods and the truth in everything in life. Be a student of people, be a student of logic, but be a student of yourself above all else and whatever problem or pickle you get into in life you can give yourself the best outcomes and come to the best solutions, the key is getting out of your own way and detaching from emotions and personal bias. People have a fear of being open minded because we invest emotionally when we put energy into something, when we commit to a belief system, change or admitting what you have believed and want is actually not true is extremely difficult and causes us to lose orientation, when we lose orientation we must work hard to re-orient ourselves. We also fear that it will look weak, wishy-washy, and admitting defeat is seen as copulation but keeping an open mind and re-orienting based on information is a necessity to be the best you.

 

[RangerMIke]

Human beings will always make emotional decisions, then look for facts or make assumptions which support their conclusion. I agree that it should not be that way, but you might as well wish we were all just robots....

 

[LiveYourDream]

Human beings will always make emotional decisions, then look for facts or make assumptions which support their conclusion. I agree that it should not be that way, but you might as well wish we were all just robots....

My decision making process runs the range from logical, to emotional, to sometimes purely intuitive. Each way has served me incredibly well, at different times.

I think the problem arises when we forget that just because a certain perspective has served us well, does not mean it will always and forever remain our best choice moving forward. It's hard to see when our own thinking/perspective needs an upgrade.

I am not suggesting anyone throw out what works. I am advocating willingness to REALLY look, if it is brought to your attention.

If your friends suggest your thinking is stuck in a rut, have the willingness to consider that it likely is.

 

[LiveYourDream]

In your opinion, is it possible for objective reality to be overwhelmingly negative?

I know someone who grew up in the middle of war, having little to nothing to eat, always afraid of the next bomb drop. Once while playing with her friends, suddenly all ran to avoid a bomb. After it exploded, where she had been playing was now covered with bits and pieces of certain friends that didn't make it, only identifiable by what they had been wearing, melted onto their flesh. Sorry to be so gruesome. True story and the one that came to mind.

I would say that was an objective perception of her reality. I think on anyone's scale that would be overwhelmingly negative. I would say yes, that would be a clear example of someone with an objective reality that is overwhelmingly negative.