They say there’s two sides to every story.

And they’re right; when there is more than one person involved, there are many sides to a story, many perspectives of how things occurred. And there are times when we acknowledge that, and there are times when we don’t care because we feel like our side of the story is the only one that matters in that moment.

I confess that I’ve been pretty selfish in my perspective, especially when it comes to my current job. Now, that may seem weird to some since I usually try to encourage and motivate others, but I’m human too. And being in a position that can sometimes seem more frustrating than rewarding sometimes causes me to focus more on my emotions, and how things may look for me than how others may feel.

Today, and even more so this week, I feel like God was showing me more and more to pay attention and respect the perspectives of others. While I was irritated about certain choices made by my director, a part of me could see how her perspective of being in charge could put pressure on her to please, not only her staff, but also the parents who drop their children off at the school, and the people above her as well.

On my Patreon page KALEIDOSCOPE, I released my testimony about being a brand ambassador, and while what I told was true, I acknowledge that it was only my side of the whole story, and that there are several people who could tell their own stories about their experiences as well. I think it’s important to note that, while we can understand that other people have their own sides of an occurrence, we must also respect their feelings within their perspective.

Just because I admit that there is another side to the story, it doesn’t mean I won’t have an attitude that denies the other person’s side. And if I choose this, I’ll miss out on learning how to control my reactions, emotions, and feelings in a situation that could affect others.

In some ways, I feel that I’ve accomplished this in a worthy manner, but in others, I know that I have more work to do. It’s easier to fall into a selfish perspective when those around you take on that same point of view, so maybe my solution is to not be around people who take on that outlook. Or maybe the solution is to speak up about the issue to those people, allowing them to see that it’s crucial to understand the positions other people are in.

Whatever path I choose to repair my mindset, I pray that God would grant me the wisdom to make the right decision in whatever situation I find myself in!

Have you noticed that you’ve been selfish with your perspective lately? If so, how can you better understand the position of others? When do you find yourself more focused on your side of the story than on how others may perceive or experience a situation?

Mishy 🦋