Someone recently told me that he chooses to sketch out his life in pencil – refusing to be confined by the way he sees the world today. He reserves, at all times, the right to change his mind. The old me would have found this infuriating. What do you mean you don’t know who you will be in a year, let alone five years? 

But, since cancer came on the scene in 2009, my life has taught me to find beauty in uncertainty. To let go of the carefully constructed – tattooed in ink – plans I had made for my life. To explore the adventures that could be waiting if I challenge myself to be open to new possibilities. I have come to believe that true growth – as a leader, a parent, a friend – is only possible when we’re willing to open our minds enough to see ourselves and the world from a fresh perspective.  

So, why is it so hard? I think – as Brene Brown’s work has taught us – it’s incredibly vulnerable to allow ourselves the opportunity to shift perspective. It can be excruciating and stressful to think about testing out new ideas or beliefs. What will people think? Who will I be if I change? I get it  – sometimes it’s easier to stay in the safety of your grooved out thought patterns. It takes practice to be open. 

At A Fresh Chapter, we cultivate perspective-shifting experiences to invite people to step beyond the bubble of their everyday lives into a world of opportunity. But, even if you never participate in one of our programs, you can still create positive changes in your life, simply by changing your perspective.

Here are a few ideas to get you started: 

1. Travel. Whether it’s to a different town or to the other side of the world, travel challenges us to be open to the idea that there are different ways to create a happy and meaningful life. Traveling could be good for your career too! A recent article on Inc.com positions Cultural Intelligence  – the ability to work effectively in different cultures – as Emotional Intelligence’s new cousin. Seeing more of the world and expanding your skillset at the same time feels like a win-win to me. 
2. Volunteer. With our hectic lives, it can be hard to carve out the time to give back, even when we believe it’s important to show up for others. When we think about it as an obligation, we often forget how much we gain from volunteering. In my experience, volunteering is the single quickest way I’ve found to change my perspective. The minute I step into a volunteer role, I can see the challenges in my life in a much wider context. I feel the joy of connecting with others and always leave with a renewed sense of possibility and purpose.
3. Read. Even though it’s hard to carve out the time, reading can rewire the way you see the world. Pick up a book like There, There by Tommy Orange and you’ll never be able to unsee the oppression of Aboriginal communities across the United States and Canada. This perspective (and compassion) will, hopefully, make you wiser and more activated to reduce oppression in the world. In these complicated times, it’s so important to be willing to look at difficult issues and see them in a broader context. 
4. Connect. Expand your network. Create opportunities to meet people outside of your immediate circle. Sign up for a class, attend a debate, join a march, book a trip and, even if you’re an introvert like me, challenge yourself to engage with new people whenever you can. Even if every conversation isn’t revolutionary, you will likely expand your horizons and you might even meet a friend for life.  

Changing our perspective opens us up to a world of possibilities and ultimately transforms our lives. I will never forget the words of a speaker at a networking breakfast early in my career, who propelled me to adopt a growth mentality. He said, “Five years from now you will be the exact same person, except for the books you read and the people you meet.” 

Challenge yourself to grow and expand your perspective. Even though you may not like everything you learn, you’ll have a richer, more connected life because of it.