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Someone, somewhere, is having their worst week ever.
It's an interesting thought.
And it's sobering to realize that someone-- or more accurately, many, many people--are in the middle of their worst weeks ever.
I don't say this to to joke or to be glib about this serious matter.
I say this because this week was one heck of an emotionally draining week for me.
But I was able to manage my emotions and get through it by keeping some ideas in mind.
In the end, they helped me develop a different perspective.
I think they'll help you, too.
Speaking of Worst Week Ever...
To be totally honest, this was not my work week ever. Not even close.
I've been through open-heart surgery, serious mental health issues, relationship problems, and more.
This week didn't come close to any of that.
But still--it was a week of multiple, seriously intense conversations, some of them back to back.
There were times that I wanted to put my head down on a table and just leave it there. For several hours.
But I didn't.
I kept going and accepting whatever happened to me.
Because, sometimes, it's all that you can do.
And I know, deep down, that acceptance is at the heart of personal growth.
I've never gotten anywhere by denying that something is happening or by dwelling on what has happened in the past.
The only way I've ever grown mentally and emotionally is through acceptance.
But how do you accept something that seems objectively terrible?
I hope you're not going through your worst week ever.
But you might be.
Hopefully your worst weeks are behind you, but none of us know what life will bring our way.
That's why perspective is fundamentally important to living a fulfilling life.
And if the perspective you have right now isn't working for you, you need a different one.
I get it. It's not that easy. I won't pretend it is.
Developing a different perspective can be one of the most difficult goals you pursue.
But its value is built into its difficulty. Perspective change is worth the struggle.
Developing a Different Perspective - How to Do It
First, I chose the verb "develop" for a reason.
You can't go out and buy a new perspective at the store. You can't ask a friend to borrow one.
You must earn it. You must stretch yourself to take in new ideas and consider their value.
And then you must commit to the process of changing your mind.
Because everything good takes time to develop, whether it's food or a work of art, or a healthy relationship.
So where on Earth do you begin?
Here are are some ideas for different perspective development:
- Spend time with people you don't usually spend time with
- Walk around your neighborhood the opposite way you normally do
- Drive somewhere and just get lost. See if you can drive your way out of it.
- Do something that you hated when you were a kid. Do you still hate it?
- Watch a documentary about a topic you know nothing about? What did it take for the people, systems, and processes in the documentary to become the way they are?
The possibilities are literally endless.
But what it comes down to is this: doing something you wouldn't normally do.
When life is hard, and you're dealing with something awful that seems insurmountable, you most likely need to develop a different perspective.
As the saying goes, "What got you here won't get you there."
When life changes, you need to change as well.
It's just how it is, a simple reality.
But if you can get to the point where you can see your life in these simple terms, your life will get easier for you.
And you'll make it through bad weeks.
This week?
For me, it was a tough one.
But then again, it really wasn't so bad.
