MindShift 02: On perspective, expectations, and choice

In today’s issue, we’re talking about how changing the way you see things can instantly change how you experience them.

How Far Can You See?

Imagine standing in the basement of a house, looking out of a small window just above the grass. Your view is limited—you see only what’s right in front of you.

Now, imagine stepping onto the rooftop. Suddenly, you see beyond the houses, over the trees, and into the distance.

Go higher. You’re now in a helicopter, looking over miles of land.

Now, even higher—far beyond the clouds, looking down from the International Space Station (ISS), where the Earth appears as a beautiful blue marble.

The higher you go, the farther you see, and the broader your perspective.

Life works the same way.

When we’re consumed by our problems, it’s like standing in the basement—our vision is small, and we see only the obstacles in front of us. We get caught up in what’s missing, what’s unfair, and what we wish were different.

But the moment we step back and zoom out, something powerful happens.

The obstacles shrink. The frustrations lose their weight.

The Power of Perspective

When we’re overwhelmed by our problems, it’s like being in a dark basement, unable to see anything beyond the immediate obstacles. But if we can step back and look at things from a higher perspective, those obstacles seem smaller and less intimidating.

This practice is known in psychology as ‘self-distancing’ and ‘temporal distancing’.

What once seemed overwhelming now feels insignificant. Especially if we tie this technique with one of the fastest ways to zoom out…

Trading Expectations for Appreciations (Thank You, Tony Robbins!)

Expectations keep us trapped—waiting for things to go our way, for people to act how we want, for life to meet our conditions.

Appreciation, on the other hand, frees us—it lifts us higher, helping us see all that we’ve already been given. Much of it, we never even asked for.

When I’ve found myself stuck in frustration, I have turned to my Guru, Mahant Swami Maharaj. He reminds me to step back, to look at life from a higher vantage point, an ‘elevated’ perspective.

He would often say to…

“Focus on what I have, rather than what I don’t have. Don’t let yourself be confined by a limited viewpoint, like the restricted vision from the basement. Broaden your perspective by elevating it; then you can unlock new possibilities and make more informed choices.” (Btw, this was the inspiration behind today’s MindShift)

In the grand scheme of things, most of what we worry about today won’t even cross our minds 10 months from now, forget 10 years from now.

As long as we continue to view our situation from the ground level, as if there’s no other perspective, we will feel trapped in our situation.

However, the truth is, right now, we can shift our perspective by choosing to find things to appreciate.

Mahant Swami has constantly taught me that this is a choice, at all times.

THIS is what I hope we all can see.

What we choose to focus on, is a choice.

It is why I appreciate his guidance so much; it isn’t just empty words—He lives from that higher perspective, the ISS view. Then he invites me to view life in the same way.

I’ve come to LOVE this shift to appreciation over expectation.

When I get caught up in the smallness of my struggles, He always pulls me out—helping me see the world, and myself, from a higher place.

This Week’s Introspection Reminds Me That…

• With a grateful heart, I can make a better choice
• With a grateful heart, I can uplift & serve others
• With a grateful heart, I can grow closer to God
• With a grateful heart, I can be happier now.

This shift is always available to us—right now, at this very moment.

All it takes is one small choice to see things differently.

So, Tell Me…

REPLY AND ENGAGE WITH ME

1. What’s one expectation you can exchange for appreciation today?
2. What’s something you will choose to see differently moving forward?

Hit reply and let me know—I’d love to hear your insights.

See you next week,

With love,
Shyambo

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