I think we all want to feel free to choose, to say no, or yes, to have what we want, and want what we have. I think we all want to embrace our power to create, and attract to our lives that which brings us closer to self-acutalization. We want to make a positive contribution to the world in which we live, take care of our family, have friends, enjoy life.

If one feels powerless to affect their relationship with the world, people seem irresponsible. Respectively, to those who feel empowered, others by defiinition are responsible. We see, and experience, a reflection of who we are.

I’m not saying anything new here. You’ve said it. Others say it. But how do we affect real change in our perceptions?

To change our experience, we need to unlearn what we’ve been taught, and learn (or relearn) to see the world and our place in it from a different vantage point. We have to be prepared to turn a conversation around. And we need tools to do that.

It’s a long process and requires a commitment to work at it every day.

Change in perception tool #1: Mistakes and conflict are “opportunities to learn.” That does not mean anything more than what it says. We don’t have to “all get along” or love others and accept everything they throw our way. It may mean we decide to steer clear of some folks, or change our relationship with them, or develop a personal skill that allows us to fend off their words and actions (intended or otherwise) that might undermine, intimidate, throw off balance.

I love this stuff, don’t you?

The more we talk about it, the more real it becomes.