Wayne Dyer said, “When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.” What’s so remarkable about this idea is that you can apply it to absolutely anything.
When you change the way you look at people, the people you look at change. If you notice the full depths of a person’s humanity, you will have a much easier time experiencing the bright, capable, compassionate people you have and will meet. And you will, in turn, experience yourself as the bright, capable, compassionate person you have always been.
We become what we pay attention to. Not buying it? How about this? We become more informed on what we pay attention to. And when we know better, we can do better.
When you change the way you look at plants, the plants will change. You will notice that the flowers have been sending signals. Some need more water. Some, less. Some need more sunlight. Some, less.
When you change the way you look at food, the food you look at changes. If you take note of what’s actually in the food you eat, you’ll lean towards healthier choices with very little effort. If you notice how you feel when you eat, you’ll stop when you’re full and avoid overeating.
When you change the way you look at your closet, your closet will change. You will see the organization the closet is calling out for and implement the changes. You will find that missing sock!
Essentially, if we can change our perspective and get a new look, the world we look at will then look new. And with that fresh outlook we can change ourselves — and the world — for the better.
I’ve found that when I changed the way I looked at birds, the birds I looked at changed. Or at least my relationship to them changed. I’ve found that, in the early morning, if I stay still long enough, nature will come to me. I’m sure the same type of birds have been there my whole life, but I’ve only now started to notice them. It’s brilliant the way they sing in the morning. For many years, I never noticed. I’m learning to slow down and notice the world around me in a new way.
And when we change the way we look at the world, we change the way we look at ourselves. A deeper understanding of that which is around us will lead directly to a deeper understanding of our truest selves.
William W. Brown is founder and board chair of Legacy Early College wbrown@legacyearlycollege.org.
