It’s all about perspective

Wayne W. Dyer, an internationally renowned author and speaker in the fields of self-development and spiritual growth, had once said, “Changing the way you look at things can change the things you look at.”

True, indeed.

Alas, not many of us follow it.

I have often met people who complain that they are so used to the daily routine of life, it has become boring.

I believe they should look at their surrounding with a new perspective. They will find many more interesting things among their usually dull lives. Instead of the grey pavements, they might be able to notice the rainbow.

With a new viewpoint, your usual journey home from work can turn out to be interesting too, despite the fact that you are used to the scene unfolding in front of you.

A feeling of idleness creeps into your heart, as you take a seat in the bus. You know that the journey home will be boring – the traffic, the car honks, children on the beach, as usual.

But change your perspective a bit and take a glance beyond the glass windows. You can see the evergreen trees, the blossoming flowers, the cotton-candy-like clouds. You might notice a young girl waving as your bus zoomed past her, with a smile carved upon her innocent features. You see glistening water of the beach, as the sun tries to take over the water, killing small droplets. And, the sea recruiting new ones in place of all martyred droplets for defence. 

And you would think, “How could I fail to notice these beautiful views earlier?”

Yes, a change in perspective can help you see the world under a different light. Different perspectives can attract you towards what you once felt was uninteresting. 

There are too many clichéd hero-villain fights in movies, where hero always manages to win. People would be bored, knowing the climax. Yet, the fighting scene picturised at the climax of the classical Indian film ‘Sholay’ is still remembered by many. For, the filmmaker had filmed the same plot with a new perspective.

A columnist would have written many articles on nature and pollution, yet he manages to write another piece on the same topic and grab the reader’s attention by writing with a fresh perspective. 

The adaptations of Shakespearan play Romeo-Juliet, Heer-Ranjha and Laila-Majnu, managed to win the hearts of the audiences even though they knew the story, because it showed the same story under a different light.

So, if you ever feel tired of your life, try to look at the world with a new perspective. For, it needn’t be the rose bush that has thorns, it can also be the thorn bush which has roses.

(Published in The Gulf Today on December 3, 2016)