Many people can experience the same event and bring home different perspectives.
An email a friend sent me this weekend with the subject line “road rage” perfectly illustrates this “same event, different perspectives” concept.
The email suggested that this driver was trying to pass the elephant because he was impatient. Did any of you receive it?
I thought these photos were remarkable and so I did more research. On snopes.com.
It is a perfect example of how the same event where one could think of as “truth,” could be construed in different ways. It makes us stop and wonder what is truth? So I wanted to share.
The driver was not “trying to pass the elephant.” He saw the elephant coming from behind him and tried to stop his car so as not to disturb it. He was actually trying to go backwards to get out of his way but was stuck in the ditch so he could not move. The driver and his passenger were very frightened.
With the first perspective, we feel like they deserved what happened. And the second, we feel sympathy for the driver who was just in the wrong place at the wrong time. Radically different.
Situations are not always what they seem. Your perspective may be off. Before responding, take a step back and ponder what else might be going on. Don’t judge too quickly, you might alienate yourself or someone else. I have done this too many times and have lost friendships, felt terrible, been depressed, or despondent when I judged too quickly.
A great trick to figuring out how to interpret something is to run it by a trusted friend. A friend might have more distance from a situation and invite you to see it from a big picture view. A new perspective is usually what I need to get back on track.
Did you and a friend ever experience the same event and see different perspectives?
I love it. That is so true, and I have suffered from that so much that i am very careful now before getting to any conclusion.
If I can’t ask a friend, I try to look at the situation as an external party not as the one involved in it, and sometimes it also helps to put myself into the other person’s shoes and see the situation the way he is living it, and what it meant to him.
Nothing that can happen to a person hurts more than being misjudged. Injustice is awful. That is why I am very careful not to inflict that pain to anyone.
Nikky, you are such a kind and gentle person. I am so glad to know you! You have amazing skills! Thank you, my friend!
I agree. Nikky is beautifully kind and gentle. <3
Great Post, Jodi. Love your words of wisdom. Always. Love. Xx
My Inner Chick recently posted..Laughing. Praying. Loving.
Thank you Kim <3 <3 <3 <3
Nikky44 recently posted..Hey Friend, Welcome back!
She just intuitively knows how to do all this stuff! Thanks Kim for the comment and compliments!
Love you both
one thing I certainly don’t know, is how to accept compliments 
Thank you <3 <3 <3 <3
Nikky44 recently posted..Hey Friend, Welcome back!
You just did pretty good!
Perspective is everything. Great post, Jodi. This is something we really have to think about before we jump to our own conclusions.
Kelly Hashway recently posted..Monday Mishmash 6/11/12
Thanks, kelly. Our reality is pour perception, we better make it a good one!
I just love the way you push me to challenge my perspectives on things…and through that, my long-held beliefs. What a great post with a nice gentle nudge to examine my beliefs and perspective.
Greg recently posted..Day 308: "I am what I am and that’s all what I am"
Thanks, Greg! And welcome to my blog! I am so glad you liked it! Sometimes saying it simple gets the point across doesn’t it.
Jodi
A different perspective on the same thing? Hmmm. Now that gives me a different point of view!
I really loved it Jodi. Such a perfect example!!!
Stan! Love the word play! Getting ready for the blogging world? Yeah! Let’s do this!
A wonderful example of how a different perspective changes everything. Thank you for sharing this and reminding me of how important it is to stop and think before I come up with conclusions or follow my assumptions.
Tina Barbour recently posted..OCD and why I don’t cook
Yes, Tina, I find we either don’t think or over think. We need something in the middle, just being!
I am so glad you shared this story! I had seen the photos before and just like you said, assumed that the elephant was annoyed by the car trying to pass it. What a great example of the stories we tell ourselves about the sensory data we receive. Great post!
Galen Pearl recently posted..A Problem Solver’s Problem
Galen, I am glad you liked it. We take so much for granted! And we are so influenced by the meaning other people make. I wanted to invite readers to rethink a situation. Thank you!
Yes, the news headlines are famous for doing this these days. Breakdowns in communication are rampant just because of misconstruing a situation, leading to inevitable damage. It’s sad. I use Snopes too – good for you for checking it out!
Cindy Brown recently posted..Woo-Hoo Wednesday – No Awards (Whew!)
It is the biggest problems in relationships! I totally agree!
I totally agree Jodi, it’s so easy to judge quickly from a given situation, but I always tend to see a fact from a different perspective before saying or thinking anything. Great reminder dear, love it!
Thanks, Marie, it is nice to give it some time to sink in and see from all sides before judging, isn’t it? Thanks for the comment!
Yes I often think that if when we see something if we just stand back for a short while and reassess what we see then we will see things from a different perspective.
Take for example somebody who has fallen out with a friend and tells us all about it, we then reach a conclusion based on just one side of the story, but if we are told the story from the other persons point of view then quite often our conclusion can change totally.
An interesting post I must visit this blog more often especially as you follow me on twitter.
Robert, Thanks for visiting! There are many sides a story! As many as people seeing it!
Judging too quickly seems to be a knee-jerk reaction, something I tend to be guilty of. I love how you explained it through these photos. I would have been terrified too. Looks like the people in the car had good reason to be scared.
Monica recently posted..In Praise of Black & White
No kidding! Thanks, Monica!
This is truly a great lesson in going beyond what we see at first, to get to know the truth. Thank you for sharing, Jodi. I was a good reminder for me today.
Corinne Rodrigues recently posted..If I Had To Live My Life Over
Thanks, Corrine! I have to remind myself everyday! Each time making the commitment not to accuse and blame myself or others!
Having a true friend to bounce these ideas off of is key to getting through life!
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