Perspective is one of those universal principles that applies to many different areas of life.
Your perspective comes from your culture, your upbringing, your family, friends, interests, location and much more.
Changing it is always refreshing because you're seeing things anew.
Sometimes, though, taking that fresh perspective hurts. You realise you've been approaching something wrong. Like when my four-year-old son asked me why I liked cleaning so much.
Yes that really happened.
I was gobsmacked. I asked him why he thought that. He said 'Because you're always doing it'. Fuck.
I WAS always doing it. Just putting this away, sorting this out. I explained I was doing it because I liked my home to tidy. But that felt empty. I knew I was saying it for me, not him. He probably said it to make me play with him more in the first place.
His innocence changed my perspective. I saw things through his eyes.
Now, seeing things through my sons' eyes (I have two) is something I try and do every night. I ask myself which words and actions I'm proud of and which I would change.
Now I have a gift for you (it was made by some friends of mine, I can't claim any credit). A story of dad who's attitude and outlook is inspiring. When his son was young, he got paralysed from the neck down. It didn't stop him doing the things he wanted to do with his son. I've watched it three times (it's only 5 minutes long) and learnt something new each one.
I hope you do too.
Every week I send out one email with insights, questions and stories to help you be a better dad. If you want to join hundreds of other dads please subscribe here.