When it comes to making the best out of any situation, sometimes all you have to do is change your perspective. The fact is that how you view things—whether an event, a situation, or a person—has a direct effect on the stress you feel … or don’t feel. Your perspective can make something seem positive or negative.
Perspective influences every aspect of life. For example, up close, the earth looks flat; from outer space, it’s round. A student may dislike a demanding teacher; the following year the student praises the teacher for being so thorough. A customer may seem difficult and rude; the next day you realize the customer revealed a huge problem and by fixing it you save your business. The difference in all these is in your perspective—how you choose to view the challenge. When you change your perspective, you change not only how you see the situation, but also how you react to it.
You Can Change Your Perspective
Without being mindful of what is happening in your life, you create your own perception, which often leads to stress.
The effects of stress on the body can be the cause of headaches, weight gain, insomnia, asthma, heart disease, ulcers, depression, migraine headaches, irritable bowel syndrome, and many other harmful effects on the immune system, digestive system, and central nervous system. In addition, a growing body of evidence points to stress as a contributing factor as to whether these develop in the first place because stress damages neurons in the brain.
Anticipation or anxiety can also lead to stress. The human mind is so powerful, the connection between perception and physiological response so strong, that the brain can send off the flight, fight, or freeze response by merely imagining a threatening situation. This ability of the brain can be either a source of positive empowerment or it can be an invitation to illness.
Tip: If you want to reduce the stress in your life, change your perspective. Look at what is stressing you out. How can you reframe it? Of course, some events are so catastrophic that finding the good in them is impossible. But for many of life’s everyday stressors, it is possible to change your perspective so you reduce stress and improve your mental state.
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