Page 38 - Maddie

Sophia Lia’s Advice & Thoughts

- The Power Of Perspective -

The Power of Perspective simple as having the capability of observing the different
points of view between you and your parents but having
Is life happening TO you, or FOR you? the grace to understand and accept that both views can be
potential truths.
It’s a question of perspective. It could also be as deep as looking at a broken friendship
in a way that allows you to accept that it taught you a lesson
W of us coast through life noticing the world, the events “worse for wear.”
you were meant to grow from, as opposed to leaving you
hen I sat down to think about it, I realized that many
that take place in our lives and our interactions with all those But shifting perspectives is not always easy, especially
we come in contact with as things that are happening “to” us, when emotions are involved - so here are a few techniques
as if humanity is on some sort of “auto-pilot” program that I’ve found to be useful as I’ve grown on my own path:
we have no control over.
1. Learn to become a neutral observer
On a conscious level…we observe the world happening
around us from a physical perspective, but subconsciously, Looking at your situation or challenge from an outside point
our past experiences and judgements alter how we per- of view (removing your emotional response to the situation)
ceive our tangible world. Have you ever noticed that even can really help you better understand others’ perspectives
throughout the same routine of daily life, you have some of a situation, not just how you perceive that situation to be.
days that are just miserable and everything seems to go You’ll find this approach can very quickly bring you peace
wrong, while some days you feel completely unstoppable of mind and deescalate negative emotions surrounding the
- like the whole world is working for you and everything is topic or situation.
sunshine and rainbows?

Have You Read It? For the most part, our 2. Take on an optimistic viewpoint
daily events and the rel-
atively routine patterns Even though sometimes it can be tough to find the light in
of things happening something, if we can identify even one positive thing about
around us go relatively the “negative” challenge, it can sure open your mind to a
unchanged. However, more optimistic perspective overall. Find one good thing
our perspective of our that could come from your situation, and it’ll be sure to make
environment creates cer- you more open to accepting the situation for what it really
tain emotions and focus- is (which again, is often nothing more than an opportunity
ing on those emotions to grow.)
causes the expansion of
what we see 3. Practice gratitude, even for the little things
as positive
or negative, large- Even though you might be facing a sticky situation or feeling
ly dictating whether we completely overwhelmed with life, keeping a journal which
have a “good” day, or a includes things or people you are grateful for is a powerful
“bad” one. exercise to stay happy and positive. When things are going
What’s important to real- rough, you can refer back to all the good and then come
ize is that your perspec- back to your situation with a more blessed mindset.
tive can completely make
or break any situation - it Remember, your mind is an incredibly powerful tool. A tool
all depends on how you that can quickly influence your emotional responses to the
look at it. world around you - so when you put it to good use with
A healthy, or positive repetitive positive thoughts, chances are, you’ll see more
If you like what Sophia perspective might be as sunshine and rainbows.
has to share, be sure to check
out her debut publication which
was released this past August. IG - sophiallia Sophia Lia
sophialiamag.com xoxo

38 teenlook | fall edition