How to Change Your Perspective

Last Updated: February 24, 2023 References Approved

One truism holds that changing one’s perspectives is like changing the window through which you view the world.^{[1]
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Research source} Acknowledging and thinking about different perspectives is an important part of developing throughout one’s life. Changing ingrained perspectives can be difficult, but if you take a holistic approach to considering your perspectives and those of others, you can change your perspective and how you view the world around you.

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Evaluating Your Perspectives

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Think about your perspectives and how they shape you. Think about your various perspectives and how they shape you and your world. Considering these views will help you start to make proactive changes.
- List your perspectives on a piece of paper so that it’s easier to see and think about them. You can also make notes or comments on each part as necessary.
- Be very honest with yourself about your perspectives so that it’s easier to make changes.^{[2]
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- You also need to think about how these perspectives shape you as a person. Do they tend to make you a negative person or make you less likely to take risks?
- For example, if you believe that a woman can’t be the head of state or a CEO, acknowledge this perspective and then consider how it influences and shapes you in every aspect of your life. You may discover that your perspective is clouding your judgment of all women.^{[3]
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Consider the sources of your perspectives. Your perspectives form throughout your life based on factors such as family, education, culture, and life experiences. Considering what influences your perspectives may help you to reformulate them.
- Your life experiences including illness, travel, jobs, religion, politics, and your television and reading habits inform your perspective. Broadening your horizons with other experiences may help start to change your perspective on them and the wider world around you.
- The people with whom you surround yourself, including family and friends, influence your perspective of yourself and life. Confining yourself to certain people or types of people may hinder your ability to change your perspectives.
- Education and learning have a significant impact on your perspectives. Not keeping yourself continually informed can keep your perspectives from developing.
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Envision how your life would be if you changed your perspectives. Once you’ve had a chance to think about your perspectives and what informs them, envision how your life might be if you changed your perspectives. This may help you to see not only the benefits of changing your perspectives, but also may begin to change them.
- Try the simple exercise of doing a handstand or laying in the grass and looking up at the sky. Both exercises can help you notice that life is not linear and there are many different perspectives from which to view the world.
- Ask yourself creative and deep questions about the world and consider “what ifs” to help you see how changing your perspectives may change you and the world around you.
- For example, think about what might happen if you believed that women can be heads of state or CEOs? Would you get along with your coworkers and other people better? Would it help you in your own career or life?

Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

Considering the Perspectives of Others

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Acknowledge that other people have different perspectives. Every person has their own perspectives and opinions that are formed based on their experiences. Acknowledging that other people have perspectives that differ from yours will help you to more holistically consider your own views and begin changing them.
- You cannot begin to change your own perspectives without considering and acknowledging that your truth is not the only or right view.
- For example, if you believe that women can’t be heads of state or CEOs, understand that there are many people in this world who don’t share your view. Otherwise, countries like Norway or Great Britain or companies such as Yahoo wouldn’t have had women at their helms.
- A good exercise to help you understand different perspectives is to choose a cultural trait that you do not possess. Try to imagine how that cultural belief might impact your perspective on a number of issues.
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Talk to someone else about his perspectives and what informs them. If you know someone who has different perspectives than you, ask him if you can have a friendly conversation and exchange views. This kind of conversation can help you to understand other viewpoints and may provide you context or information that may change your own perspective.
- Ask your conversation mate lots of questions about his perspectives and what informs them.
- Ask if he’s ever had a change in his views or even how he develops his perspectives over time.
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Be respectful and don’t debate. Always be respectful of other perspectives and don’t debate or fight with a person about his views. Being respectful and not debating will give you the chance to consider his views and see how they fit with yours. You may find that even if don’t see eye to eye, that he has good ideas that can help you change your perspectives.
- Remember that you can learn from any conversation, even if it’s to support your own views. Arguing is counterproductive and may keep you from developing.

Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Reformulating Your Perspectives

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Acknowledge that you choose your own perspectives. As you begin changing your perspectives, acknowledge that you alone choose them and how they develop. Doing this will help you more actively take the steps to change your perspective.^{[4]
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- Knowing that you have the power to form your own perspectives can be very freeing and may provide you a great deal of comfort to go forward in life.^{[5]
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- For example, if you have a tendency to be negative, you can actively take steps such as only seeing the positive and letting go of negativity and negative influences to help change your perspective into a positive one.
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Educate yourself. Part of reformulating any perspective is educating yourself through the consideration of a wide variety of sources and opinions. Without knowledge, you can’t grow or develop, and educating yourself broadly will help you to most effectively reformulate your perspectives.^{[6]
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- You can use a variety of sources to educate yourself. Taking classes, reading, traveling, or even just talking to another person can provide you with new information that will help you change your perspectives.
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Take classes or participate in continuing education activities. Continue your education and training throughout life by taking classes, attending lectures, or getting additional professional training. Developing your intellectual skills will help expose you to different perspectives and may help you change yours.
- You can attend classes, lectures, seminars, or other continuing education programs in person, or you can take them online. Many universities now post classes or lectures online for the general public.
- Look online for free or cheap lectures and tutorials from websites like Udemy or Khan Academy.
- Training and the type of development that comes from practical experience can also be very valuable to changing your perspective.
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Read a wide variety of media and sources. Reading a variety of publications will expose you to different opinions and perspectives. This can help you reformulate your own perspectives.
- Make sure you consult different kinds of media such as newspapers, magazines, websites, and books.
- Make sure that the sources you read come from a variety of perspectives. For example, if you read something from a liberal politician or news source, then consult something from a conservative politician or news source to see both perspectives of an issue or argument.
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Travel as much as you can. Take the opportunity to see as much of the world as you can through travel. This will show you that the world, even if it’s a nearby town, is multi-faceted and has many different perspectives, which in turn can help change your own views.
- Traveling to foreign countries is the best way to see other perspectives, but domestic travel is also an excellent way to experience this. For example, if you are on the East Coast of the United States, you might be surprised to know that the lifestyle on the West Coast is quite different and could help change your perspective on how you life your life.
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Engage in politics. Politics are inherently something in which people express different perspectives. Engaging in politics or the political process will expose you to these different perspectives and can help to change yours.
- Consider taking part in the politics of different parties to ensure that you expose yourself to as many perspectives and opinions as possible.
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Volunteer or help others. Simple acts of kindness and helping others can do wonders for your attitude. Not only can you put things in perspective about your life, but it can distract you from problems and generally make you feel more positive.^{[7]
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Trustworthy Source
Greater Good Magazine
Journal published by UC Berkeley's Greater Good Science Center, which uses scientific research to promote happier living
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- Consider volunteering at a hospital or soup kitchen. Realizing that you are healthy and have the means to support yourself will put your life in perspective. Doing this can also help you to actively choose to change negativity in your life.
- Helping friends and family members can also help you change your perspective because you’re making someone else feel good, which in turn will make you feel good.
- Giving and receiving love and support will make your perspective on life increasingly positive.^{[8]
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Incorporate new information as well as the perspectives of others. As you begin to formulate your new perspective, make sure to incorporate what you’ve learned through education, experience, and talking to others. You won’t be able to develop or change your perspectives without this valuable information.^{[9]
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- See the big picture and focus on developing well-rounded views as you incorporate this new information.
- Understand that you don’t have to completely believe every person’s views. You can pick and choose what you like of their perspectives based on what you’ve learned in your research.
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Express and enact your new perspective. You’re now ready to fully articulate your changed perspective and enact it in your life. This will not only help reinforce your own new perspective but will signal others that you’ve changed, too.
- Put new perspectives into action to enact positive change in your life.
- Write out your changed perspectives on a piece of paper so that you have a tangible reminder of them.
- There are many different ways to enact your changed perspectives from including them in conversations to changing the world around you.
- For example, if you changed your perspective on women as heads of state or CEOs, you can weave this into conversations.
- If you decide to take a positive perspective on life, you can enact this immediately by keeping your interactions with others and even with yourself positive.

Expert Q&A

Question

How can I start thinking in new ways?

Sandra Possing
Life Coach
Sandra Possing is a life coach, speaker, and entrepreneur based in the San Francisco Bay Area. Sandra specializes in one-on-one coaching with a focus on mindset and leadership transformation. Sandra received her coaching training from The Coaches Training Institute and has seven years of life coaching experience. She holds a BA in Anthropology from the University of California, Los Angeles.

Sandra Possing

Life Coach

Expert Answer

Seek out people and experiences that are different or new. Try to make a commitment to remaining neutral, instead of judging one way or the other. Gather information and seek to understand other perspectives, especially if they are different from yours. Learning new skills and taking classes can help as well.