Transform Your Viewpoint

What if you found out that your perception of life has been overly simplistic, akin to viewing everything in black and white, when in reality, it can be vibrant and colorful?

Is such a transformation achievable? Absolutely!

Let’s delve into the contrast between these two perspectives and uncover an easy method to shift your view from monochrome to a vivid spectrum of color!

The Power of Perception

To clarify, this discussion about sight and color is metaphorical. How you think correlates directly to how you perceive the world.

You may have encountered the phrase black and white thinking. Imagine altering this mindset to one filled with color by adopting two simple words in your vocabulary.

These two words can revolutionize your perspective. Our minds often operate like black-and-white photography, capturing only part of the reality around us. A black-and-white image reveals limited details since it relies on just two tones. While black-and-white photography has its charm, imagine a world devoid of color! Color imagery conveys a wealth of information, offering millions of shades instead of a mere few.

Shift Your Perspective with Two Words

The transformative words that will shift your mindset from black and white to color are “both/and.” These replace the limiting phrase “either/or.”

In essence, perceiving situations through the lens of “either/or” confines you to a black-and-white view. However, when you embrace “both/and,” you open yourself up to a colorful spectrum of possibilities.

The Two Mindsets

Essentially, we can approach the world through two distinct mindsets: either/or and both/and.

• Either/or signifies a fixed mindset, characterized by a black-and-white view.
• Both/and represents a growth mindset, which embraces color.

At first glance, which mindset would you prefer? A static, unyielding perspective that insists “it is what it is, and nothing else” or a growth-oriented mindset that acknowledges, “I don’t know everything, and I can evolve and learn”?

Making It Practical

Consider the often-debated question: “Is it possible to work or not work and still make a living?”

It depends, right?

Some argue that work is essential, while others vehemently disagree. Yet, some may find that both working and not working can lead to a sustainable living.

Most of us engage in gainful employment at some point, but we don’t necessarily work all the time, do we? There’s an abundance of time in between. What about those who inherit wealth? They might opt not to work, living off their fortunes instead.

However, problems arise when work overtakes your life. I’ve experienced that too. At one point in my career, I thought my businesses needed my constant commitment, which often came at the expense of family time.

Before I knew it, my daughter was off to college, and I was left reflecting on how quickly time passed!

Looking back, I realize I could have navigated things differently. Yet, we cannot alter the past; we can only learn from it.

One day, I had a significant realization. The president of my company transferred back to Europe, and we stayed in touch as friends. He shared, “Bill, in all my years of dedication, rarely taking my vacation time, I lost precious moments with my family. No one ever thanked me for my commitment.”

By that time, I was already reevaluating many aspects of my life and recognized that this was true for me too. All those years of sacrifices for my job came at a cost to my family life, and yet, not one person acknowledged my commitment.

In truth, neither my friend nor I were obligated to make those sacrifices. We simply assumed that was the norm. I had lived my life with a black-and-white, either/or mentality. EITHER I skipped my vacation time, OR the business would fail, and others would view me as less dedicated. This misguided assumption controlled my life. How mistaken I was!

I could have embraced BOTH hard work AND time off. I could have perceived my work-life balance as both/and rather than either/or.

That day, I transitioned from the notion of either working or not working to both working and not working. This simple shift in perspective set me on a new trajectory.

> “I feel like most people aren’t either/or, they’re both/and. You’re both magnanimous and petty. You’re both kind and cruel. You’re never just one thing.” – Greta Gerwig

What If You’re Feeling Stuck?

When confronted with an either/or dilemma, consider asking yourself:

“Is this truly an either/or choice, where only one option exists? Is it genuinely a black-and-white situation?”

Then pause to redirect your thoughts and contemplate:

“What would make it both of these?” “What truths lie within the first perspective?” and “What truths exist in the opposing view?”

You will undoubtedly discover countless opportunities to apply these questions throughout your life. Remember, not everything is as clearly defined as it may seem at first glance. You must evaluate both sides candidly and openly to reach a more comprehensive understanding.

> “Life is as complex as we are. Sometimes our vulnerability is our strength, our fear develops our courage, and our woundedness is the road to our integrity. It is not an either/or world.” – Rachel Naomi Remen

An Example of Transformation

Let’s consider a scenario many of us aspire to: retirement. Will you retire and cease working altogether? That’s one perspective.

What if you adopted a different approach? What if you viewed retirement as doing only what you enjoy while working?

In this case, you might choose not to work at all—or, like me, you may find joy in continuing to work in a limited capacity. I do BOTH! I still coach because I am passionate about helping others, AND I thoroughly enjoy the freedom that retirement brings.

Since retiring, I’ve achieved a lifelong dream of publishing a successful book. Writing and sharing articles online has become a regular pursuit for me. I define retirement as the opportunity to engage in what I love. It’s a remarkable phase in my life where I typically do as I please, when I please. As I often say, “In retirement, every day is Saturday, except Sunday.”

You can bet I don’t miss any vacations! After all, I am on a semi-permanent vacation, able to travel and explore without guilt. What a wonderful existence!

Concluding Thoughts

Why not transform your life by adjusting your perspective? Transition from the black and white of either/or to the vibrancy of both/and. Learn to relish both the simplicity and complexity of existence!

Simultaneously, why not enhance your work-life balance by shifting your mindset from either working or being unhappy to both working and finding joy? Take the vacation time you rightfully deserve. You don’t have to choose between work and happiness. Change that perspective to both working and being happy. Challenge any either/or scenario you encounter in life and reframe it to reflect the enriching both/and mindset, and witness your growth.

When you shift your life from black and white to color, you can have your cake and eat it too!

I encourage you to identify one either/or situation in your life and experiment with reinterpreting it as both/and. I bet you will enjoy the transition from a fixed mindset to a growth mindset, just like many others have. Imagine the liberation that comes from shedding those restrictive either/or blinders!

Ah, experiencing the freedom of an unshackled life is incredibly liberating! Once you cultivate a Both/And, Growth Mindset, you will never look back!