When we see someone do something that we don’t understand or that we think we would not do, we tend to automatically judge that action and say that it was the wrong thing to do. Or possibly to say that that person is bad because of that decision that they made. I have found a great deal of comfort in understanding the following principle.
Perspective Determines Action
I have also heard it worded in this manner by W. Cleon Skousen “If you believed the way that they did you would act the same way that they do”.
It can be very easy to make those quick blanket statements regarding an individual. But ultimately those actions were prompted by their perspective of their current situation.
So what is perspective you ask? Answers.com defines perspective as:
“The relationship of aspects of a subject to each other and to a whole: a perspective of history; a need to view the problem in the proper perspective.
Subjective evaluation of relative significance; a point of view: the perspective of the displaced homemaker.
The ability to perceive things in their actual interrelations or comparative importance: tried to keep my perspective throughout the crisis.”
I would sum up the definition in “Your current MacroEconomic environment” or all the things that make you you, your education, your relationships, your income, your car, your family, your favorite tv show, etc..
Whenever you make a decision, you make that decision based on the understanding that you currently have based on all those influences in your life.
One of the ways that I find this principle redily apparent in my life is whenever I have a routine that I change because I learn some new information or acquire a new ability. So the action that I performed before is not invalidated by the fact that I changed what I was doing, in fact it is more validated by the fact that I was acting in accordance with what my perspective was at the time, and after my perspective changed I adjusted my practice as I saw fit based on my new perspective.
The fun part is that we are all doing this constantly, this is a principle that it is impossible to violate. If you see yourself doing something that you keep asking yourself why you do it. The answer is that your current perspective entices you to make that choice. So change your perspective through additional education, changing your physical surroundings, changing your relationships, etc. And your actions will change based on the change in your perspective.
The other side of the coin for this principle is that of other people. Understanding this principle allows you to view peoples actions objectively and realize that just like yourself, others only choose there actions based on their perspective. It makes it much easier to not judge the person based on their immediate actions and focus on instead helping them change their perspective so that they can/will avoid making that same choice in the future.
Be a producer, Notice principles at work in your life and act accordingly.