Perception Is Not Perspective
Alex graduated from high school this week. It’s been fun celebrating this milestone with him. It has been a journey in so many ways.
As I watched the kids gather with their friends it reminded me of how differently we view the world at 17 than when we are – older.
Our perception of what we view as important, urgent, relevant and worthy of our attention then versus now is so different. I’m sure we all have a thing or two that we obsessed over in high school that we wouldn’t spend 2 seconds thinking about now. Popularity, sky high bangs, who sits and what lunch table. All of it.
Our perception in high school is that these are make or break moments and worth most, if not all of our attention.
And yet with time comes perspective. The ability to step back and see a bigger picture. Perspective allows us to see more of the puzzle so that we can better ascertain just how important something is, and how much time we need to give it. Better yet, perspective offers us options of other things to focus on that we can’t accesses when we are so zeroed in on one small moment.
Perception is often when things go sideways, we have an emotional reaction to what we perceive is happening, but without the full knowledge and understanding of the situation as a whole.
Perspective is that moment when wisdom prevails and we have the thought ‘perhaps there is more to this story’ or ‘maybe this isn’t as important as I once thought it was’.
Certainly time helps to make the shift, but we don’t always have years to wait around to get a better handle on things. The good news is, perspective can be gained in any situation by taking a pause. It may be 5 seconds as you take a deep breath, or 5 minutes, or more. The key is to stay curious and be open to more than your initial assessment of a situation.
It applies when we are in high school and right now as we navigate a shifting market. To some their perception is – the sky is falling and this is terrible. To others, their perspective is that this is a moment to adjust and hone new skills, ask new questions and know that now more than ever our clients need us.
Which will you choose, perception or perspective? The answer will shape the rest of this year and likely next as well.
To your success!
Nicole
Signup to receive Nicole's blog posts via email weekly:
Other Posts
Markets Like This Call For Shorter Timeframes
For 30 years I’ve planned a year at a time. But right now I’m doing things differently. I’m breaking my plan into 60-90 day chunks. Short term planning used to stress me out. It felt like there wasn’t any margin for error if I got off track. However, right now, it feels supportive. While I…
Why I Stopped Doing Open Houses The First Weekend
Open houses the first weekend – we all do them. We tell our clients it will increase exposure. But what if those open houses are making it more difficult to sell your listing? Consider this… Buyers have come to rely on open houses to view properties. It’s convenient for them, but it means fewer showings.…
What If The Market Is Better Than You Think?
Try this on for size: What if the market isn’t good or bad? What if it’s about shifting your perspective? There are amazing opportunities for both buyers and sellers right now. For buyers: Prices are down (yay!) and interest rates are up (boo!). Buyers need to consider both. In many areas prices are down 10-20%.…
Showing Up Is Key To Letting The Good Stuff In
Why do I show up? Why do I write these emails?Why do I teach classes?Why do I believe that energy and mindset work are the foundation of real estate success, and life well lived? Because whatever it is you want – aka, the good stuff – An income that funds your lifeGreat relationships FunHappinessPeaceJoy ALL…
The Cost of Waiting
I’ve talked to many agents that are waiting…. Waiting for interest rates to get betterWaiting for the market to improve (whatever that means)Waiting to show up on social media until they know how to create the perfect viral postWaiting … Waiting … Waiting … I get it. The only thing worse than feeling stuck, is…
It’s Not Just Your Story – It’s Everyone Else’s Too
I’ve spent years working on my own limiting beliefs — but I discovered one at the Abraham Hicks workshop last weekend that I had completely missed. Esther, aka Abraham Hicks, has been a leader in mindset, energy, and attraction for decades. My mom actually took my sister and me to a workshop 30 years ago,…
Bet On Yourself VS The Market
Last week I shared how the end of August is a weird time – wanting to savor summer, while also shifting back into work mode. Turns out I’m not the only one this happens to! Thank you for all of the notes and feedback. I’ve found that when I’m not taking action, I spend WAY…
I Used To Dread The Last 2 Weeks Of August
Thirty years in real estate has taught me a lot of things. One of the best is this: I can finally see my own patterns. Like the one where I get twitchy every year mid-August. Part of me wants summer to stretch on forever. Part of me is itching for routine, order, and the satisfaction…
Beliefs = Actions = Results – It Matters Where You Start
August is an interesting month for me. I’m savoring the relaxed pace of summer, while also starting to think about Fall and shifting back into work mode. With a shift in focus I naturally start wondering what will happen. Will I be busy? Where will my clients come from? Will they be buyers or sellers?…
What Do You LOVE About Your Business?
I’m back!!! There’s been a lot going on lately, (more on that in a later post) and it’s been a few weeks since I’ve sent you a note. Needless to say, I’ve missed you! I’ve been moving through a lot of ‘life’ lately, and there’s been a common thread in my business that has surprised…