Believing in People: Visualize

How true!

If we act according to our beliefs, and if our actions determine our outcomes, then (at least in a sense) perspective is everything!

The ability to visualize a better future and (even more importantly) to help others challenge destructive views that may be holding them back,  is a key gift in believing in people. If we can help others grasp a vision of what is possible, we have the opportunity to help them create a whole different outcome for their future.

In an article entitled Ground Down Or Polished Up?,  John Maxwell shares the following quote from an owner of a junkyard where a friend had gone to buy a used car part:

Doesn't that perfectly sum up what happens to people? Sometimes, life just wears us out. It's not necessarily any one big thing (although it can be) but the daily stresses, demands and disappointments of life can rob us of our vision and energy as we look ahead and see only more of the same.

Sometimes people are so preoccupied struggling to see their way through today that they have no vision left with which to see a brighter tomorrow.

One way to help people renew their vision is by asking questions that help them think about what they would do if there were no limits, what their dream would be if there were no obstacles... questions that spark the imagination. It doesn't cost anything to imagine. And imagination does more that just inspire... it's also the first step to igniting the energy needed to turn dreams into reality.

Helping people create a vision of where they want to go and find purpose in their life also helps reawaken their passion about living that life. 

We all create mental pictures. When we worry, we are visualizing the future and seeing the things that could go wrong. This drains us and leaves us discouraged and dreading the future... afraid to try.

What if we help people imagine what could go right? What would be the best that could happen?

Why not? If we are going to sit around mentally creating ridiculous catastrophes, why shouldn't we create ridiculous fairy tales? 

Another key to successful visualizing is to re-frame...to  look at something from a different perspective.  In photography, a slight shift in angle can dramatically improve the quality of a photo. It's like that with life and how we choose to look at things. There are always multiple angles from which to view any experience, and the angles we choose can make all the difference in the quality of our lives.

Take disappointment for instance.

How many times have we mourned a closed door only to later discover a treasure hidden behind a different door, one we had never thought to open... and never would have if we'd been able to break through the door of our dreams?

Again, the right questions can help a person re-frame and discover hope and possibility, even in the midst of disappointment.

I think it's easy to think like Charlie Brown when his newly completed sandcastle was immediately destroyed by a downpour: "There must be a lesson here, but I don't know what it is."

Curiosity and humor (used at the right time and in the right way) can be tremendous tools for re-framing the "challenges" life throws at us. Needless to say, sensitivity and good judgement above all,  but anytime we can manage to look beyond an obvious negative and discover something interesting, unusual, ironic or even funny... we take a step toward overcoming the negative rather than letting the negative overcome us.

What can I learn here? What can I do with this?

Then there is that dreaded word...Failure. Everyone has to deal with it at some point.

During the 80's, as a college student at Harding University, I was introduced to the Heart of the Fighter series of lessons by Landon Saunders. That was more than 35 years ago, but to this day, it remains my all time favorite. In the "Heart Surviving"- going beyond failure segment, he encourages listeners to keep their focus on a mission bigger than self and to  take a long-range view. Those are a couple of very handy tips to remember for surviving any kind of crisis, because hard times are part of life. Crisis. Disappointment. Failure.

Things happen. It isn't always our fault.

But sometimes it is; then on top of everything there is regret and guilt.

In his article, From God’s Perspective, the late Chuck Colson described so well what he called "the most critical element of leadership for a Christian" and I'd call it the most critical element of any believer in people: It is

That is exactly what Elisha did in 2 Kings when his servant woke up to find they'd been surrounded by an enemy army.

While Elisha's servant saw the hostile threat, Elisha saw chariots of fire sent by God. By lifting his sights, the servant was able to see what Elisha did... deliverance instead of danger. These days, we may be more likely surrounded by spiritual, emotional or psychological than physical threats but the principle is still the same.

Through God's eyes, we can see ourselves as reclaimed, redeemed and renewed. Being reminded of God's presence in the picture makes all the difference.          

So the ability to help people challenge the negative pictures they are creating and to help them create positive ones is huge.

And when all else fails...

Sometimes a person may be in a bleak space and unable to climb out to find that brighter picture for awhile. In those instances, we just have to hang in there and believe FOR a friend who may be unable at the moment to believe for him/herself.

I have definitely been through times when I had to rely on those wonderful people who managed to keep on believing and were able to see a light that I couldn't see at the end of the tunnel.

During those times when we have only the vision of another to keep us heading in the right direction until we are able to see the light for ourselves...

Isn't that just exactly what God has always done for us?

To imagining the "impossible," embracing the interesting, laughing at the ironic... and to those who hang in there with us when we can't.

Until next time!

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