New Reminders: Perspective
by Ardith Hoff
Looking at something from a certain point of view changes what we see. The same is true if we think from a certain point of view. The vantage point from which we see a situation also changes how we perceive it. We call that psychological perspective. The best example I have seen to illustrate this concept is a cartoon that depicts a person on a small deserted island in the middle of the ocean looking out across the water. He sees what looks like someone standing on the water with his hands in the air. As the figure gets a little closer the person on the island realizes that the person on the water is actually in a boat. He immediately thinks, “Boat! I am finally going to be rescued and taken back home.”
However, the man in the boat, has an entirely different perspective. He sees the guy on the island and thinks, “Land! I am finally going to get off this sticking boat and there is a person there, and that means there is food and fresh water.” Then, there is the perspective of the shark in the water between the two men, He thinks “Lunch! My prospects for a meaty lunch just doubled.”
We know that things look differently, depending on our physical point of view, as well as our mental point of view. In other words, we see things according to where we are in a space and also in terms of where we are in our thoughts. Perspectives do matter––to you and to the people around you. To a man stranded on a deserted island, seeing a boat is a sign of hope for him to be rescued. To a man who has been drifting in the boat for days, seeing land for the first time signifies food, life, and civilization. From each person’s perspective, things appear differently, and unless you’re in the situation of one of them, you will never know how they feel. We have to figuratively put ourselves in the other’s shoes to even imagine what they might be feeling. That what is called empathy. Compassion generally comes from a feeling of empathy.
We all need to try to see, and feel, what others might be going through. When we imagine someone else’s pain, we are better able to consider what we might be able to do to help and comfort them.
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.” 2 Corinthians 1:3-4