There are many ways we can go about viewing life. That’s because there are many ways in which we filter the way we see. Be it experiences, education or otherwise, we have a tendency to paint everything according to what we know.
Of course, we could get more granular, but from a macro-perspective, we have listening up and considering mirrors and microscopes. Both instruments are great for inspecting, but only the mirror can put your involvement into proper context. You see, a microscope allows you only to inspect and judge others.
That 360 degree view is missing. In addition, the microscope allows you only to see what is happening in the now. You cannot forecast ahead based upon historical trends, nor can you lead forward.
As we wrap up our discussion on this topic, here are 7 posts worthy of further consideration on the topic of how we can go about viewing life and how we can apply the right filters.
When it comes to viewing life, we have a tendency to paint everything according to what we know through experiences, education and more.
7 Posts About Viewing Life And The Filters We Use
9 Ways the Most Successful People See Life Differently (Jeff Haden at Inc.com) – Silver linings are not always easy to come by. Haden shows how to find them in failure, criticism, unhappiness, envy, decisions, struggles and more.
A Prophetic Warning About Your Thinking (Joel Meeker at Life, Hope & Truth) – Christian living has challenges, much like any way of living. Drawing upon the book The Shallows: What the Internet Is Doing to Our Brains, Meeker suggests we may be nearing a shallow and distracted way viewing life and God. Dangerous grounds indeed.
Develop God’s Perspective On Life (Rick Warren) – Warren uses Colossians 1: 28 to teach us about spiritual growth. Specifically, he teaches on perspective and seeing life from God’s point of view.
See Yourself as God Sees You (Andrea Groenewald at The Life) – Groenewald asks a question speaking directly to viewing life with mirrors: How do you see yourself? She shares that it is not opinions of others that creates identity. Whether it’s self-esteem, overcoming a past, depression or more, we can move forward – If we seek to see ourselves as God does.
Three Keys to Seeing Other People the Way Jesus Sees You (Dr. Ronnie Floyd) – Jesus did more than look (such as with a microscope). Jesus saw (from all angles). To help people along a path of discipleship, we must see those people and involve them. Floyd offers three keys to help us learn to begin viewing life with Jesus’ eyes:
Putting Yourself in Someone Else’s Shoes – Why? (MinTools Blog) – a great spiritual primer on empathy using examples from Psalms, Matthew, John, 2 Corinthians, Hebrews, Ephesians and more.
Helping Vs Enabling: How To Know Which Is Which (Bob at Seedtime) – How can we help those in need yet remain wise in our ways? Bob uses this post to describe the difference between helping and enabling and why we so often find ourselves unwittingly doing the latter.