Anna Katharina Schaffner
At our last Wine & Wisdom evening, we talked about the power of perspective-shifting. How often have you heard the phrase that ‘Life is all about perspective,’ illustrated by the example of glass half-empty and glass-half-full people? While both sound a bit clichéd, perspectival awareness really can be transformative. Our perspectives are the lenses through which we see the world. They determine what we see, what we don’t see, and how we see what we see. Honing the skill of perspective shifting can be a key to unlocking a richer, more fulfilling life.
Guiding changes in perspectives so that clients can see their challenges from a different, more generative angle is a key coaching aim. The secret of high-performing teams, too, is to harvest multiple perspectives – really to celebrate cognitive diversity and benefitting from the wisdom of multiple viewpoints in our search for smart solutions. Sometimes, we can get stuck and fail to see ways in which we can overcome our problems. However, more often than not our problem is not so much the actual problems we are facing, but rather the way we look at these problems.
We each view the world through very unique lenses. Our attention is attracted to certain details, determined by our interests and preferences. We may feel hopeful or pessimistic about our ability to effect positive change, focusing mainly on positive or negative events in our lives. We may see patterns that others don’t. We may be very detail-oriented or big picture, visionary thinkers. We may pay a lot of attention to concrete, sensual data, or see potential and opportunities everywhere.
Imagine for a moment that life is a kaleidoscope. With each twist and turn, the colours and shapes shift, creating a beautiful array of patterns. Similarly, our perspectives act as the magical twists that shape our experiences and emotions. Whether we’re facing challenges or savouring triumphs, it’s our perspective that colours these moments with significance.
Sometimes, our lenses can be unhelpful and may not serve us well in a given situation. We may only see one small angle of the issue we are facing, not appreciate context and the bigger picture, or be held back by our blind-spots. We may lack energy and motivation, thinking that the problem is much bigger than it is and fail to even begin to tackle it because we are so discouraged. Or we may be cut off from our natural creativity and resourcefulness for other reasons, with no access to our problem-solving capacities.
In the field of psychology, perspective shifting is often referred to as ‘cognitive flexibility’ or ‘cognitive shifting’. It’s the ability to adapt and adjust our thinking and approach to a situation, problem, or concept. It involves being able to perceive things from multiple angles, considering different viewpoints, and readily changing our mindset to accommodate new information or contexts. Cognitive flexibility is much more than mere open-mindedness: it’s about actively engaging with diverse perspectives to enhance understanding and decision-making.
The writer Marcel Proust writes: ‘The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes.’ What would be possible for you if you managed to look at your most vexing and persisting challenge differently? What might you see that you haven’t seen yet?
Take Monday morning traffic jam, for instance. You could curse your luck and let frustration set the tone for your entire day. Or you could turn on your favourite podcast, relishing in the extra moments of ‘me time’ you get whilst being stuck in slow-moving columns of cars. The event remains the same, but the way you view it, the perspective you adopt, paints an entirely different picture.
Perspective shifting is a skill that can be cultivated and honed over time. It’s the art of stepping into different pairs of shoes and seeing the world from various vantage points. Just like a photographer adjusting their lens, we can tweak our perspectives to capture different dimensions of reality.
Let’s say you’re facing a disagreement with a friend or a colleague. Instead of stubbornly clinging to your viewpoint, why not attempt to see things from their side? This simple act can open doors to empathy and understanding, transforming a potential rift into an opportunity for growth. Perspective shifting is a powerful tool for breaking down walls and building bridges.
Research has shown that people who are able to shift their perspectives are better at problem solving, because their ability to view problems from various angles leads to more creative and effective solutions. They tend to be less rigidly attached to their thought patterns and are able to make more informed decisions. They can weigh different options, consider potential outcomes, and choose the best course of action based on a broader menu of options. People who are great perspective shifters are also better at adapting their communication styles to different audiences. They can imagine what interests other people, how to hold their attention, and how to share complex concepts with them.
Understanding and considering other people’s perspectives results in enhanced empathy and more meaningful relationships. It helps us avoid prejudice and bias. What is more, perspective shifting encourages continuous learning. When we are open to new ideas, we are more likely to seek out opportunities for growth and education. We can also adapt better to and deal better with uncertainty and change.
Perspective shifting, or cognitive flexibility, then, is a cornerstone of psychological well-being and effective functioning. It equips us with the mental agility needed to thrive in an ever-evolving world. Realising that our way of seeing is not the only one out there, and that we may benefit from shifting our angle or learning how others might see the world, is a truly precious insight. Wayne Dyer writes: ‘When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.’
Remember the Cubists? Picasso and co. painted ordinary every-day objects, such as fruit, newspapers, and guitars, as well as human faces and bodies, and then showed them from multiple, highly unusual, and incompatible angles. The results were things of beauty that revolutionised our understanding of looking and seeing. Life’s beauty lies in seeing it from all its glorious, incongruous, and surprising angles.