The Right Perspective
How Our Minds Trap Us
How often do we feel powerless and overwhelmed by life, by problems, sadness, and negativity that come and go, only to return again? The truth is, these things do not happen outside of us. They happen in our brain and mind.
Some suffering is biological and inevitable. Physical pain brings physical suffering, and emotional pain, such as losing a friend or family member, brings mental suffering.
Even in these cases, we can train our minds to face them differently, in the best way possible. Past experience matters, but we also have the power to shape the experiences we build every day so that parts of them become training sessions for our minds. Training is necessary. The mind must be trained. How? We will return to this.
For now, it is enough to be aware of this. Consider situations of suffering that are false, where fears and wrong perspectives come into play.
On one hand, we can work to increase the probability of finding ourselves in favorable situations in the future that help us face suffering. On the other hand, whatever our position and situation, it is always possible to see things from the right perspective. This is where it matters how well our mind is trained to see things from the best perspective, and there is always a better perspective that lets you see things in a way that makes you feel better, more serene, more content, happier, more at peace.
The hard part is noticing when this mood appears. If we notice it and look at it closely, even a short moment of analysis can pull us away from the negative spiral. We begin to see the situation as if it were outside us, which helps us be more objective.
Many times we react when we feel uncomfortable, instead of pausing to understand why. It is not easy to do, but we should make an effort. Taking time to think allows us to see the situation differently and increases our chances of being in a better place in the future. When we feel uncomfortable, pause and analyze.
Often we can release stress and regain a good mood through action, but we need to choose the right actions. Exercise, talk with friends, take deep breaths. Do not simply react by drinking, watching TV, or trying to suppress emotions.
It feels frustrating to accept that we cannot control something that is already within us. Maybe that is only an excuse. Maybe what we need is to work on it, slowly, until we gain more control. One of the best books that demonstrates this is "Man's Search for Meaning" by Viktor Frankl. Even in concentration camps, this realization allowed people to regain control of their lives, in a situation where everything had been taken away from them.
Even without going so deep, any situation, whether at work, with friends or a partner, stressful moments caused by conflicting desires, discomfort, or uncertainty, can always be approached in a better, more effective way. There is always a more productive way to spend our time than wasting it stressing ourselves out.
Your mind today is the result of everything you have experienced so far: every feeling, every sensation, and every piece of information that has passed through you, often without you even noticing, shaping the thoughts you have today. Your states of happiness, discomfort, or anything in between often come from letting your mind act on its own, following default patterns as it reacts to situations.
To avoid this, people often rely on values, models, religions, or beliefs they trust or hope can protect them from being overwhelmed by pain or negative emotions. That is fair. Religion, for example, has often brought more good than harm throughout history.
But people sometimes hold on to assumptions or beliefs that harm themselves and others, such as thinking they are not good enough, fearing failure, believing they must always please others to be accepted, convincing themselves that change is impossible, assuming that money is the only measure of success, or following traditions and rules without questioning whether they are just. The mind gets stuck in these patterns, and it becomes easy to believe that reality can only be one way, which pushes people to act as if there were no alternatives.
The Power of Perspective
Reality exists as it is and is objective, while our interpretation of it is subjective. The real issue is that we, as human beings, often fail to understand, uncover, or accept reality. Instead, we react in the hope that reality will change, rather than focusing on what is truly within our control.
The most important thing we can hope to control is ourselves and the way we think.
One thing we can always control is the effort to recalibrate our mind. Whatever reality we encounter, we can respond more consciously, in a better way for ourselves and for the people around us.
Every belief begins with what we think is true. Why not choose among all the different beliefs a faith in one of the potentially most powerful principles we have: the power of perspective.
Whatever happens in life, there is always a better way of looking at things. We may not know what this better perspective is right now, and it may be difficult to find, but focus on the fact that it always exists, no matter how hard it may be to discover or make your own.
Concentrate for the moment on the idea of "always." Reflect on this with a clear mind. If you conclude that this assumption is valid in every situation, you will gain a powerful tool to use whenever you need it, especially when you are sad, facing a problem or obstacle, or dealing with something that seems impossible to overcome.
Even if we do not yet know what that better perspective is, believing that it must exist encourages us to start looking for it. The beauty is that the very act of searching already shifts us away from negativity, even before we find the new perspective.
Putting It Into Practice
This applies not only to emotional challenges but also to practical, operational ones. When I feel blocked, I remind myself to change perspective.
Even at an operational level, when ten hours a week might not seem enough, I step back and consider which point of view or angle might reveal the solution. The goal is to find the perspective that allows me to leverage my efforts to the maximum and make the best use of those limited hours. Sometimes the constraint itself forces us to discover more efficient approaches we would never have found with unlimited time.
This is a powerful principle. It is worth embracing and making our default response. Whatever happens, we can rely on our strength or faith, whatever form it takes, and remember the truth that there is always another path. There is always another way to react, something we can do to feel better, and a way to continue our journey in this life in the best possible way.
The choice to start searching for it and to find it belongs to us alone.