Change Your Perspective

Recently, a friend shared the following insight with me. I'm suprised how powerful it is. Please comment and let me know what you think.


Reverse Your Buts

I learned a little trick, years ago, that helps me make a quick perspective shift, when I need to. Our company was participating in a management seminar in which we were taught a strategy that goes by the unlovely name of "reverse your buts." I did not make this up! It works like this:
Maybe you're thinking, "I love you, but you're driving me crazy." Instead, try thinking, "You're driving me crazy, but I love you." Isn't it amazing how different that feels?
Try another one: "I have a great job, but it's really stressful." In reverse, "It's really stressful, but I have a great job." . . .
Why does this work? It all goes back to the idea of focus. It's like when my husband made a video recording. . . [several] years ago. He started with a wide shot, trying to show the whole stage, and then panned across the line of performers and stopped to zoom in for a close-up of own kids. We stop and focus when we get to the thing that is of greatest importance to us. So when you put the positive thing last in the sentence, the focus is entirely different.



From Confessions of an Unbalanced Woman, by Emily Watts; published by Shadow Mountain, copyright 2006. pp. 33-35