You Win, I Win: The Opportunity Perspective
One thing I love about discussing the levels of perspective is that they just keep getting better and better the higher up we go. While the lower levels can be a bit depressing (especially if you’re stuck there), we really start getting into some cool mindsets in the higher perspectives. We last discussed the Service perspective, which is where we really start to see the change from ‘I’ to ‘you’ in how we interact with people.
However, we also saw that the 4th perspective can get a little too ‘you’, and result in self-neglect or resentment. In our fifth perspective, which we like to call the Opportunity perspective, we now see the ‘you’ moving into a more mutually beneficial ‘we’.
In this perspective, people see each situation as an opportunity—not just for them, but for everyone involved. This is a ‘we both win’ perspective—much different than the ‘I win, you lose’ mindset of the lower perspectives, and also different from the ‘you win and I hope I do too’ mentality of the 4th perspective. Individuals who see the world this way are always looking for the good in life and how to learn and grow from situations both good and bad.
They see life as full of opportunities and are convinced that everything will work out for the best. They view other people as unique individuals with special gifts and tend to be very accepting of others. Those who see life this way are great at building communities, injecting new life into teams and raising optimistic and loving families. Wow, after reading that I bet you all want to adopt this perspective, right??
But of course, as we’ve seen with each perspective so far, there is also a downside. When you’re constantly seeing opportunities, it can be a little overwhelming. Which chance do you take? Which lesson learned do you expand upon? Taken too far, those in this perspective can start suffering from the FOMO syndrome, or the dreaded Fear Of Missing Out! Anyone who has been enjoying a glass of wine and a book on a Friday night until looking at the Facebook feed and seeing that almost everyone they know is at a big party knows what this feels like. When there is so much out there to see, do and learn from, it can lead to paralysis and even a sense of anxiety.
Those who are a little too expressive about this perspective can also be annoying to someone who may be experiencing negative emotions or a setback. If you just got notified you didn’t get hired for your dream job and needed to talk, would you really want to hear, “Everything happens for a reason. It will all work out in the end!” Yeah, you’d probably want to smack that 5th perspective junkie right in the face! On the flip side, those with this perspective can easily get frustrated by those who just don’t see things the way they do and pull away from people who they believe are ‘bringing them down’.
The Opportunity perspective can be really beneficial one as it allows the individual to reframe setbacks and see life as one giant opportunity. If you identify with this perspective, make sure you have a strong support system of friends and family who you can bounce ideas off of and get honest feedback. This is the best way for you to narrow down all the possibilities out there and gain some focus. It’s also easier to hear, “Hey, tone it down, Sally Sunshine!” from someone you know loves you rather than a total stranger!
If you think the 5th perspective sounds cool, just wait until we get into the next ones! That’s where things really start to get trippy!
Trish Cody has over 18 years of experience consulting with some of the world’s top Fortune 500 Companies. Today, as an ICF and iPEC Certified Coach and Energy Leadership Master Practitioner, Trish works with clients to uncover their core values and beliefs, clearly see how they are showing up in their behaviors and impacting their success, and to shift their thinking to naturally attract positivity and success. For more information, visit www.TrishCody.com.
