Shifting Perspective Away From I

We spend most of our lives in the I perception of life.  We can’t help it, we’re human and that’s how we’re programmed. Shifting perspective gives us so much benefit, yet I is where we still live.

The thing if, from I, we only see what we’ve programmed our minds to show us. That means we miss a lot of the available data. A lot.

When we shift out of I, we  access a wealth of new and diverse data. As we expand our data about our worlds, we expand our minds and our options. That’s a very good thing.

Shifting Perspective: How to Get Out of I

Imagine you’re in a negotiation with another person (or persons). Or perhaps you’re having an internal dialogue about a decision you have to make. Or a group discussion about an executive strategy plan. In any of these cases, there are 3 perceptual positions.

• 1st position:  You’re in the 1st person, looking at whatever you’re discussing or doing from your own perspectives and beliefs.  From this position, you focus on your own viewpoint.
• 2nd position: Then there’s the person or persons whose involved. They have their perspective, which to you would be a 2nd person perception. To them, it’s the 1st position.
• 3rd position: Finally, there’s the 3rd position which acts as an objective observer of the situation, discussion or whatever is happening between the 1st and 2nd position.

If you want to expand your mind with new insights and possibilities, spend some time in all three positions. Clear your internal dialogue from the I position and step into the other positions.

• In the 2nd  position, focus on  the circumstances and requirements surrounding the other involved party (ies). See, hear, feel and think as if you were standing in their shoes.  What can you learn?
• In the 3rd position, you have the opportunity to be an Objective Observer. You now have insights from others and yourself. Take a step back and review all of the insights you’ve gathered. What do you see, hear, feel and think about the situation? What fresh insights did you gather?

Then step back into the I position.  Notice any changes or expansions in your thinking and information.

I love this exercise.  The lessons I’ve learned about myself and shifting perspective on things thanks to the Objective Observer are life changers.

Try it and let me know what happens for you.