Have you ever felt like you aren’t enough? Have you felt like you had no business doing what you are doing? Have you heard “Who do you think you are?” as you tried to make something new or better? I have felt and heard these things. But I persevere because I must be me; I must not let the thoughts of others control my life.
To persevere requires that I shift my perspectives, something that isn’t always easy. Many of us have grown up with criticisms – little gifts bestowed on us by others during our childhood. The problem can be that we take the criticism to heart, and we believe that the speaker was telling us a truth about us. Are you the same person you were when you were 4-years-old? If someone said to you that you were stupid when you were 4, would you still believe it when you were 50?
One of my favorite quotes is from the Talmud – “We see the world as we are, not as it is.” This statement shows that our critics are only telling a truth about themselves. Because it is with their eyes they see something to criticize; through their perspectives, they feel they can judge us. Their view of their world reveals their perspective, which has nothing to do with us.
Once we realize that we don’t have to believe what others say about us, we can let go of their criticisms. But what if we heard the same criticism throughout all of our childhood? The thought becomes embedded in our cells, and it might not be so easy just to let it go. Sometimes more in-depth work is needed.
I teach how to shift perspectives to people in my online course “You’re Kidding Me! Building Blocks to Reclaim Your Wonder”. The building blocks in my course are curiosity, playfulness, perspective, self-trust, and self-love. Each building block is an essential part of creating your best life.
The perspective you hold colors your world. The beauty of this is that you get to choose your perspective!
May you be blessed!