Perspective & The Time Lens

According to Webster's 1828 Dictionary, perspective is defined as:
"A glass through which objects are viewed."

The object being viewed can be a problem, an opportunity, a relationship or a decision.

Over the past several years, the power of perspective has become one of my favorite words, themes and topics—both personally and professionally.

Sometimes lenses are placed before our eyes without our effort or request. A tragedy. A health scare. A major life event. Suddenly we see things differently.

However, for the ongoing issues of life, we can intentionally choose different lens. That is a powerful tool always available and often overlooked. Situations rarely change immediately but our perspectives can.

Maybe the circumstance you face is a good and exciting one and there are important decisions to be made. Other times the circumstances are not so pleasant, or you are trying to find solutions to nagging problems.

One powerful lens that can help in either situation is time. In fact, I believe time is one of the most practical lenses available to us.

When we are in the middle of a problem, disappointment or conflict, it is easy to believe that what we're experiencing right now is all there is. But time has a way of changing how we see things. Challenges that once felt overwhelming often become valuable lessons. Mistakes become learning opportunities and disappointments sometimes redirect us toward something better.

Not every problem becomes smaller with time, but many of them become clearer. Some challenges are significant and deserve our full attention. However, many frustrations lose their power when viewed through a longer lens. Sometimes perspective is simply allowing enough distance to see the bigger picture.

I was recently reminded of this while on vacation with my wife and son. One of the greatest benefits wasn't the destination. (But the beach was quite nice!).  It was the mental and emotional shift to stay present with my family and fully enjoy the experience.  

I think many of us spend so much time in the middle of life that we rarely step back long enough to evaluate it. We become consumed by today's pressures, deadlines and frustrations. Sadly, we often take those with us on vacation.

The problem is that when we are standing too close to something, we often lose sight of the bigger picture. Time helps create distance. And distance often creates clarity.

An inconvenience becomes a story.  A disappointment becomes a lesson. A mistake becomes wisdom. A detour becomes direction.

Time allows us to separate emotion from reality. It gives us space to think clearly. It helps us recognize what truly matters and what simply feels urgent.

Many of the lessons that shape our lives are only visible after enough time has passed. That is why some of our greatest growth often comes from experiences we would never have chosen. Time reveals what pressure often hides.

What situation in your life might benefit from being viewed through different lens?

The next time you encounter a frustrating situation, ask yourself: "How will I view this one year from now?"

How can you create distance on a regular basis? Hint: margin in life.