Progress or Perspective

There’s only two roads we take at any given time: progress or perspective.

When we feel as if we are getting what we want, our happiness rises. When we view a result as a step back from our goals, negative emotion floods. Life’s a mixture of these two, and how we handle the latter determines its meaning.

On a smaller scale, hitting traffic on the way to work might aggravate many. A few may see it as an opportunity to reflect, pray, connect with a loved one, or listen to a favorite podcast. On a larger level, getting fired from a job can be perceived as devastating. A few may see it as a blessing, a time to reevaluate “What do I truly want to be doing, with who and where?” In between the big and tiny obstacles, lies our choice to decide our vantage point.

Vantage point determines advantage or disadvantage.

Another hazard exists along these roads: deep down, we don’t exactly know what we want [three, five, or 10 years from now]. We have a vague idea. We have an in-the-moment concept. We have an intuitive desire. Nevertheless, how many times have we invested far too much time into a job or into a relationship only to find out it was the wrong job or relationship for us? And that’s okay… because losses are lessons when we choose the appropriate perspective. If we’re still breathing and still believing, we have a chance to choose something special.

The events in our lives never make us thrilled or upset. Our interpretation of the events makes us so.

Be fascinated or be frustrated.

Become better or become bitter.

As a Mental Performance Coach, I oftentimes refer to my work as perspective-building. Sessions, workshops, and presentations are filled with constant reframes, looking at situations from different angles. When I listen to a problem, I look for the possibilities inside it. When I hear a worry, I aim to find a way around or out or through it. While I pay attention to what’s being said and what’s happening, I also focus on what’s unspoken and what could be.

Wisdom: knowing the next “right” thing to do. Through dialogue, we decide what’s wise.

“Because of this something good will happen” is the silver-lining line to keep in mind when initially upset. At 18 years old, with a broken back and my mother battling cancer, I struggled to zoom-out, to see the bigger picture. Now, at 32 years old, I maintain complete conviction that that chapter of my life catalyzed what I do now as a calling — to learn, study, and coach all aspects of holistic health and peak performance.

Like pain becoming one’s purpose, deep experience empowers deep expertise.

For You, Not To You

We will not always get what we want.

We will not always receive the love we crave.

We will always procure perspective…

and, no matter what, that’s progress.

— MG