Perspective, when healthy, improves attitude, knocks down negativity, creates a spirit of gratitude, and can help to overcome burnout, especially in the lives of effective educators. You might say "Perspective is the WD40 of Life". It greases the hinges of the doors that might be holding you back.
Best of all, it’s a magic oil that is already in you.
"If you have faith then your whole life is put into a new perspective.
You get to work but enjoy the work at the same time.
If you grow spiritually, you do what's in front of you
and let the results speak for themselves"
— Roy Orbison
Miracle oil is said to heal ailments, grow hair, repair skin, and even reverse aging. Essential oils can lift the mood and make us feel good when diffused into the room.
WD40 is perhaps the essential oil, with over 2,000 possible ways to solve what ails. It's a great problem fixer that eliminates annoyances—even squeaks and spider webs.
Wouldn't it be nice if we had something similar to grease life's frictions and hassles?
"If you want a love message to be heard, it has got to be sent out.
To keep a lamp burning, we have to keep putting oil in it."
— Mother Teresa
Perspective is the WD40 of life because everything changes based on how we look at it. It transforms our attitude and ability to respond, especially when facing difficulties.
We are unreliable narrators of our own lives because of our limited information and inevitable biases, yet we do so anyway in unwavering and unwarranted confidence.
Gratitude is a useful trigger for a healthier perspective, shifting our minds from self-centered traps into the freedom that comes with seeing the blessings all around us.
"Do not conform to the pattern of this world,
but be transformed by the renewing of your mind."
— Romans 12:2
Emotional negativity takes us down a vicious pathway, especially the outrage of offense and the desire for retaliation that comes from adopting a victim mentality. Burnout is a common result of lost perspective, giving in to agitation and noise.
Everything pivots based on our focus and our faith, giving the inner strength and clarity of purpose that enable us to sustain our commitment to love and lead others. A joyful perspective is a reliable elixir for the troubles that come with work and life.
So, oil your perspective. When you do, you’ll renew your mind, greasing the hinges on the door of opportunity before you.
