The Power of Perspective

Peak view from Tunnel Mountain, Banff, Alberta, Canada

There we were - five people having lunch at a local restaurant discussing the day’s upcoming activities. My husband, mom, sister, dad, and myself. We had been in Banff for a few days and had seen a variety of sights but wanted to ask a local what they enjoyed doing. BTW if you don’t ask locals about what they consider hidden gems you are REALLY missing out! So, we asked our waitress what hikes she enjoys the most. She gave 2-3 options and as a group we agreed on a hike.

Now keep in mind this was a group of people with age ranges of 20’s-60’s. We were excited, and asked the waitress if the hike was difficult, and how long it would take us to get to the top. She immediately said it’s her favorite hike because it was beautiful and relaxing. Then, she looked at us and paused for a bit. After pausing, she told us “The hike takes only takes me 20 minutes, so it’s fast. But since you’ve never done it before, it will probably take you 45 minutes.” Let me tell you, she was optimistic.

Fun side note - we saw so many bacon flavored things while in Banff!

We began the hike and noticed people coming down the trail who looked at piece and are happy. This helped affirm our activity decision. As we began walking for a bit, we also noticed that people looked like they had gotten a good workout. That was our first clue for the hike. Overall, it took us an hour and a half to get to the very top of the mountain. We were not walking slowly either but did take a few breaks for a minute. Once at the top, we were wowed by the view. Through the massive pine trees, we overlooked the valley below with a meandering river. The peak of the trail didn’t disappoint.

Here’s where perspective comes in. The waitress said the hike was relaxing and beautiful. Our group also agreed it was beautiful. However, it wasn’t necessarily relaxing for all of us. While the peak was gorgeous and relaxing, the actual hike was a bit more challenging for some than others. Side note - my mom was the one who was ahead of everyone the whole hike - go mom!

Times like this remind us that each person has a different perspective for everything. Our experiences, values, abilities, and mindset all play a key role in how we shape our own perspective and life. Ask yourself: When I encounter a challenge, is my perspective accurate, or can I shift it to be more favorable? This strategy can also be used for our spouse and kids. Kids can be exceptionally good at shifting perspective when needed. Note: Use this strategy when your kid is still in a good mood. If they are “in the red zone” this could only heighten their frustration.

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