When you look at an apple, what do you see?
Many of you probably see a nutritious and delicious snack. But, depending on your perspective, an apple may represent something completely different. To a teacher, an apple embodies the high esteem held by his/her students; for Adam and Eve, the apple symbolized temptation. To Isaac Newton, the apple represented the presence of gravity; for William Tell, the apple epitomized the life of a loved one. The Big Apple is home to a New Yorker, and any apple is a home to a worm. And in most countries of the world, an apple (with a recognizable bite taken out of it) represents a very successful computer brand.
In other words, what you see when you look at an apple depends entirely on your positive perspective (or lack of it). Which really, when you think about it, is true of most things in life.
This is a useful concept to consider when you are facing a situation of some difficulty. Whether it’s an unexpected setback on a project, some disappointing news, or a personal challenge, what you see will depend upon the positive perspective you choose. While a positive perspective is not always easy to find, once you find it, it can help resolve the difficulty, or at least make it much more palatable.
When has a shift in perspective helped you handle a challenge differently? What approaches do you use to find the positive side in setbacks? Share your insights by adding your comment below, so that we can all learn from one another.
Merge’s leadership development consultancy has one singular focus – to turn managers into leaders; to help great people become exceptional leaders so that they can turn their people power into real and tangible results. Through her speaking, training, consulting, mentoring and facilitation services, Merge helps leaders in organizations create high-performing workplaces.
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