Shifting Perception

Reading stories about shifts in perception, also referred to as ‘paradigm shifts,’ is enlightening. When however this happens to YOU and you take a moment to clearly see what you have done with the power of?YOUR mind, thinking differently begins a new habit and develops cells of recognition. What do I mean?

A habit is created the same way we create a new belief ... when the image we hold in our mind’s eye (conscious mind), or on screen of our mind, of what we want, is clear and distinct, consistently held in our mind in spaced repetitive intervals over time. Changing how we view something without noticing the 'what happened,' doesn't have the same value as being present to a new view. It's in the repetition that we begin to control our thoughts.

When we do distinguish or take note of what has occurred, our mind (cells) ‘remembers’ the process and the next time it becomes easier to notice and regard.

As example, you have no idea what my car looks like, so you have no cells of visual recognition. If you saw me at a stop light and waved, you would then have an image of my car. It may not be clear, but when you see me again, now getting out in a parking lot, the image gets clearer. Before long, you recognize my car across the road at a neighbor’s house.

The Historic Tree

In March 2009 I moved into my dream home on a small lake. Off the deck stood a poplar I would guess was at least 50' and about 5' in diameter. Gorgeous. Winter set in mid December and it was unusually cold with plenty of snow for North Carolina.

Mid January I noticed something! I came home from work one day and the tree was gone!

I knew in December trees were being pruned in the neighborhood ... but THIS BEAUTIFUL TREE? It was likely the oldest on the lake. I was devastated.

I called prepaid legal and found that 1) the tree was on my property, 2) no one had the right to come onto my property and remove it, and 3) it was ALIVE! They were wrong! I was right! Right?

The excision of that tree came right before Christmas. Based on what I knew here was my view or perception of the ‘what might have happened:’

• They may have taken the wrong tree (there were two: one large and one small; the small was on my property).
• They lumbered it for cash at Christmas!
• They and the homeowner’s association were negligent.

They were 100% in the wrong!

Lawyer said I had three years to resolve the issue in our State. That year went by and my upset almost disappeared until I saw the same tree service cutting one week on my street. I called the tree cutter (I never did this before) service and asked to speak to the owners. I heard nothing for days. I was getting emotional about being right’ about this!

Hearing nothing for days of course convinced me that my being right... was right!

Then the owner called me. I asked him how this could happen? What I learned, shifted my perspective again.

While they were trimming trees last December, they noticed about 10’ on the back side of the tree, a long hollow gap, and the tree was dead. It posed a danger to my home and they brought in an arborist to confirm. He also talked about some of the preservation work they do.

Within a few minutes, the new information completely shifted my perspective. Ultimately I get to chose 'how' I will remember this incident.

Now my perspective has shifted 180 degrees and I feel wonderful! What is important here is noticing how perspective changes when new information is added. I will add that my initial perspective was mine and mine alone. My new one is also mine and now includes more information. That means that our point of view is unique to us and is always changing. This is good to remember the next time I am ‘sure’ I am right. And if I AM right, for how long? For as sure as night meets day, it will shift again as soon as a new idea catches my attention on any subject. [12/1/10]

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These articles were written between 2009 and 2012, when I was deep into study of Think and Grow Rich, Universal Laws and Principles, added to over a Decade in leadership development and awareness training and coaching. What took me three years to learn and apply will take you on a short journey, simply reading them in sequence. It's a crash course in "Realizing that you have infinite potential!"

They were my Life! Most important to me is that they are clear as you read them so you can embrace them ... or not. Please let me know your thoughts. Leslie