Perspective on perspectives

Perspectives, filters, perceptions, glass-half-full vs. glass-half-empty. I believe we create our own reality; we decide what our reality means to us. Did this bad thing happen to me because I should learn a lesson, or because the world is out to get me? Did this good thing happen because I worked hard and it was a goal, or because of luck?

This was somewhat of a "fortune" I received yesterday:
"Ask, believe, receive."
I believe that is true, if you ask and believe you shall receive (can be implied with or without religious connotations, you make the call).

So, how is it that this seems to work better for some than for others? It's all about that perspective, the color of our glasses, the view, the attitude, the beliefs.

Here are some quotes I found in a research for quotes on "perspective":

For everything there is a season,
And a time for every matter under heaven:
A time to be born, and a time to die;
A time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;
A time to kill, and a time to heal;
A time to break down, and a time to build up;
A time to weep, and a time to laugh;
A time to mourn, and a time to dance;
A time to throw away stones, and a time to gather stones together;
A time to embrace, And a time to refrain from embracing;
A time to seek, and a time to lose;
A time to keep, and a time to throw away;
A time to tear, and a time to sew;
A time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
A time to love, and a time to hate,
A time for war, and a time for peace.
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

We could never learn to be brave and patient if there were only joy in the world. - Helen Keller

What we see depends mainly on what we look for. - John Lubbock

The pessimist sees difficulty in every opportunity. The optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty. - Winston Churchill


Why is this important? There are a few reasons these thoughts come to me today, but here is one example. The adoption, telling the story to two people gets very different reactions. Honestly, it's an amazing phenomenon. It takes a little work to keep myself balanced in how to respond to these variations.

If I tell someone we are adopting one person says, "how exciting, how great, you must be so excited," the next person days, "so his mom just gave him away?" I feel the need to be prepared for any action, reaction, or response. "Yes we are excited," or "His mother was unable to take care of him, she did not 'give him away', she make the unselfish decision to provide for his health and future." I do not judge people for their responses, I only hold myself accountable for my reaction and understanding of the situation. It's for me to understand and educate, not to judge.

The quotes above deserve to be read slowly and purposefully. They deserve respect from all perspectives, the authors share their observation about perspective. Yes, Helen Keller, I am willing to learn to be brave and patient (wait contentedly).