Perspective

Positive Qualities Need for Positive Perspective Change

Keep in mind that changing your perspective in life is a huge part of growing as a person. Imagine if you still had the same perspective in life that you did 5 or 10 years ago.- As you have gained experience and matured as a person, surely your perspective has changed – hopefully for the better

Positive Qualities for Perspective Change - Self-Assessment: 

ü  Open Mindedness

ü  Positive Associations

ü  Humility

ü  Empathy

ü  Self-Awareness

Directions: Try to be honest with yourself and check any item below that you need to work on:

Open Mindedness – To be able to successfully change your perspective, you need to have an open mind

___I am willing to admit when I am wrong

___I am open to discussing the possibility that I may need to change without getting defensive

___I am willing to consider viewpoints different than my own

Positive Associations – Negative people can influence you to have a negative view on life whereas positive people can do the opposite

___I am actively working on cutting off association with people who have a lot of negative ideas and negative influence in my life

___I have positive role models and supports in my life who can provide positive viewpoints

___I try to fill my head with positive viewpoints by avoiding negative media (internet, TV, music, etc.)

Humility – It is important to be “teachable” and learn from others

___I can be quiet and listen when I need too without arguing or trying to convince others why they are wrong about me

___I consider the reality that I am wrong sometimes and then try to get feedback from others when needed

___I can accept criticism without anger

Empathy – You can learn a lot by putting yourself in other people’s shoes

___Even when I don’t agree with someone I try to understand where they are coming from

___Before I make a decision, I stop to think about how that decision may impact others

___I seek first to understand other people’s views rather than always seeking first to make sure that they understand mine

Self-Awareness – You can grow by being honest with yourself about what you need to work on

___When making difficult decisions instead of being impulsive or taking unneeded risks, I have the awareness to stop myself first and think things through

___I can accept uncomfortable information about myself without trying to make excuses

___I try to apply new information to my own life rather than just thinking that it doesn’t mean anything to me

What are you going to try to take away from this exercise?

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The Power of Caring, Connection and Resilience

https://hackspirit.com/resilience-quotes/

To care or not to care…

“Don’t sweat the small stuff” – Sometimes it is best not to care about things that are not of value or importance. However, caring about things that DO matter can have a very powerful influence on each one of us. This may remind people of the well-known concept of “the wisdom to know the difference…” [differentiating between what we need to simply accept as is and what we can try to change] – Having the wisdom to care about positive and important things can be a force for sustaining progress while letting go of the less valuable things is also a huge help.

An important subject that keeps coming up when it comes to making positive progress in life is resilience, which means to “bounce back”, particularly after a trial or other adverse event. Resilient people may temporarily slow down when tragedy strikes, but ultimately, they keep on going even if they have to alter their course. Knowing and understanding when to care and when no to care can be a huge factor that leads to resilience.

How does this work?

Ø  What exactly does it mean to care? – Definition below:

Care: regard coming from desire or esteem a care for the common good - to be concerned or solicitous; have thought or regard.

To feel concern about: He doesn't care what others say.

Concern - to relate to; be connected with; be of interest or importance to; affect:

We become connected with what we care about – We disconnect with what we do not care about

Caring leads to concern which leads to connection

Caring and Connection–There is a direct link between caring and connection as these two ideas work hand in hand. Therefore, if an individual wants to increase their level of resilience, then deepening connections can be essential to this process.

The next step – Connection can increase resilience

Climber illustration: To think about how connection increases resilience, consider each connection you have in life to be like a rope keeping you from falling when you are climbing upward. The more responsibilities that you have to carry in life, the harder it can be to hold on. However, the more “ropes” of connection that you have that help lead you to your goals, the greater the chance that you can continue your climb without falling backward

What are some types of connections that can increase resilience?

Purpose –Believing in and establishing a real connection someone/something greater than you. Connection with a greater meaning than typical day to day events

Spiritual – Connection with something greater than you or a strong belief system or faith

Career – Connection with meaningful employment that helps you feel like you are part of something

Community – Being part of your neighborhood where you feel valued and you can make a contribution

Education/Self Improvement – Connecting with a passion for learning and growing

Hobbies - Making a meaningful connection with an activity that inspires you

Group – Knowing that a group of people will ask about you if you were not around and feeling like you belong

Personal (Friends and family) – Connecting on a deeper level, honestly and openly with others who know you, share memories with you, and care about you in return

Animals – Even a strong connection with a pet can increase one’s resilience. For example, there are people out there whose love for their dog can even be the difference maker in their lives

Nature – Some people are able to make a meaningful connection with their environment that can be both calming and strengthening at the same time

Addiction can overpower these things as addiction often breaks down meaningful connections.

Ø  As a group, consider how this happens? – What are some examples?

However, when the substance is out of the way, these caring connections can sustain you.

Connections build resilience and it often is your 

connections that sustain you when things are tough.

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