Perspective Shifting

When my son was young, I spent days proudly telling friends and family that he had gotten his first tooth. Yes, an adorable little protrusion on the bottom left. I remember the motherly joy of reaching into the left side of his gummy mouth and feeling his sharp baby tooth. 

Only, I soon after realized that it was absolutely untrue. He did not have a new tooth on the bottom left at all. It was the right - his right! My belief about what was true was based completely on my perspective. What I saw was a tooth on my left and I, therefore, didn’t question my perception.

I wonder how often I am blinded by my false truths. How often do I believe something to be true based on my own interpretations? Do I sometimes limit my own potential because of what I think to be true? Do I make assumptions which, in a different light, would be shaken?

This was a great reminder for me to investigate more thoroughly. Now, when I notice I am feeling absolutely “right,” I’ll remember the wisdom in checking out other perspectives. I’ll ask questions such as, “How might my co-worker perceive this conversation is going?” “Is my husband hearing my tone of voice in a different way than I intended?” “Am I seeing what others in the room are seeing?” and, of course, “Is this tooth on his left or my left?” 

Coaching Inquiries: What belief systems shape how you see the world? How often do you assume what you see, hear, believe is absolute truth? What if it isn’t?

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