The Infinite Lines of Perspective: Shifting Views, Rebuilding Beliefs, and Finding Peace
How many lines can you draw through a single point?
It’s a simple question with a profound answer: Infinite.
In the same way, perspectives are infinite. We can look at any single situation, event, or idea from an endless number of viewpoints. Every experience can take on new meaning depending on the “points” we choose to see it through.
What Do We Mean by “Points”?
A “point” in the context of perspective refers to any element or factor that shapes your perception of a situation. It could be a belief, a thought, an assumption, an expectation, or even an emotion. These points act like building blocks, connecting to form a line — or perspective — that determines how you interpret an event or experience.
For example:
- Belief: The conviction that someone is acting out of malice.
- Thought: An immediate reaction like, “They’re just trying to hurt me.”
- Assumption: Filling in the blanks with something like, “They must dislike me.”
- Expectation: Believing that people should always behave a certain way.
- Emotion: Feeling anger or frustration as a result of these combined points.
Each of these points contributes to the perspective you create. The way you choose and connect these points determines the line (perspective) you draw. By consciously selecting or reevaluating these points, you can shift your view, transforming frustration into understanding and finding peace even in challenging situations.
Infinite Perspectives from One Point
A single point in time, like a moment or thought, offers endless perspectives. Think of a simple event like watching a sunset. For one person, it’s a romantic experience; for another, it might stir melancholy memories; and for yet another, it’s simply a scientific occurrence of light scattering through the atmosphere. Every person sees that same sunset differently, based on the points — beliefs, emotions, or assumptions — they attach to it.
This concept of multiple perspectives is akin to what Don Miguel Ruiz discusses in The Four Agreements. Our perspectives are shaped by the agreements (or points) we hold — the beliefs and understandings we have about ourselves and the world. These beliefs act like lenses, coloring how we see everything around us.
With just one point, the possibilities are endless for how we view a situation. But what happens when we introduce a second point?
The Power of Adding a Second Point
When you introduce a second point, suddenly you can only draw one line between the two. This is where perspective takes form. The points you choose to connect determine the meaning you create.
Let’s take a more everyday example:
Imagine you’re at work, and a colleague abruptly dismisses an idea you’ve just shared in a meeting. Your initial reaction might be to feel hurt or defensive. You’ve connected the dots from their reaction (Point 1: “My idea was dismissed”) to your own sense of self-worth (Point 2: “This means I’m not valued”).
By choosing these two points, you create a line — a perspective — that leads to feelings of inadequacy or resentment.
But what happens if you choose to add a different point?
Instead of focusing on your hurt, you choose empathy as Point 2: “Maybe they are stressed or dealing with personal issues.” By connecting the same initial point of the event (Point 1: “My idea was dismissed”) to empathy rather than defensiveness, you draw a new line — one that forms a more compassionate, understanding perspective.
This doesn’t change the event itself, but it changes your interpretation of it. In doing so, you open yourself to patience, connection, and perhaps even the opportunity to check in with your colleague later, offering support rather than harboring resentment.
Adding a second point can feel like you’ve suddenly found yourself in a ‘Choose Your Own Adventure’ book, but all the options lead to a bad ending because you’re stuck connecting the dots between ‘They didn’t reply to my text’ and ‘They must secretly hate me.
The second point you choose — whether it’s judgment, compassion, or something else — defines the perspective you create. By consciously selecting those points, we can transform how we interpret even the most challenging situations.
Changing Perspective by Changing Expectations
Sometimes, shifting perspective is less about adding a new point and more about stepping back and reassessing the points you’ve started with. Often, it’s not the event itself that causes us pain but the expectations we attach to it.
Let’s consider a personal example:
I recently found myself frustrated because my ex wouldn’t cooperate in dropping off the kids. I tried negotiating with her, but it was like talking to a brick wall. My first reaction was to assume she was being spiteful, and that assumption quickly turned into a mental image of her at home, holding her phone, cackling like a cartoon villain at the thought of my rising frustration. The belief that she was doing this intentionally only fueled my anger. But whether or not this belief was true (and it probably wasn’t), it was definitely causing me unnecessary pain.
When I took a step back and really looked at the situation, I realized that my frustration wasn’t actually coming from her actions — it was coming from my expectation that she should act differently. I had built my perspective on a foundation of rigid expectations, and those expectations were creating a line that led straight to disappointment and resentment. But I couldn’t change her behavior, and I couldn’t control her actions. What could I control? My own expectations and the points I used to form my perspective.
I started by identifying the specific expectations I was holding onto. I expected her to be cooperative, to value my time, and to see things the way I saw them. All these expectations were rooted in the belief that she should behave in a certain way. So, I chose to change that foundational belief. Instead of expecting her to act according to my standards, I decided to remove that expectation entirely. I accepted that she might never be cooperative in this area and that I couldn’t control her responses or decisions.
By going back and removing that expectation — one of the core points in my chain of beliefs — I changed the entire line of thought that followed. Without the expectation of cooperation, I no longer had to interpret her actions as malicious or spiteful. I didn’t need to speculate on her motives or internalize the situation as a reflection of my self-worth. All of a sudden, the frustration lost its fuel.
This doesn’t mean that I suddenly felt joy or happiness in the situation, but the emotional intensity faded because I had disconnected my own sense of peace from her behavior. By changing the point I started with, I was able to shift from frustration and anger to a more neutral state of acceptance. It was no longer about whether she cooperated or not — it was about what I could do within the boundaries of what I could control.
Interestingly, without the expectation holding me back, I found myself in a position to seek understanding rather than judgment. There was no longer a mental war in my head to prove her wrong or myself right. This shift created an openness that allowed me to approach the situation with curiosity instead of bitterness. And while exploring that openness is a topic for another time, it’s safe to say that by detaching my emotional state from her actions, I made space for something more constructive to emerge.
This small but significant shift in perspective brought a sense of relief. It allowed me to be more present and less attached to outcomes that were beyond my control. It showed me that sometimes, the path to inner peace isn’t about seeing things differently — it’s about rethinking what we’re attaching ourselves to in the first place.
Blockchain and Perspective — Revisiting Preceding Beliefs
Think about how blockchain technology works. Each block in a blockchain is linked to the previous one, forming a chain of data. Once a block is added, it can’t be altered without changing every subsequent block. The integrity of the entire chain depends on the connection between each block.
Now, think of your perspectives like a blockchain. Each perspective is like a block in your chain of thoughts, built upon preceding beliefs, experiences, and assumptions (points). Once a perspective is formed, it can feel set in stone, influencing how you interpret future experiences. But what if that perspective no longer serves you?
Changing a perspective is like altering a block in the chain. It requires revisiting and reassessing the points that led to it — the beliefs, thoughts, and emotions that formed the foundation of that perspective.
Let’s go back to the example of being frustrated with my ex. My initial perspective was built on a series of preceding beliefs, including assumptions about her intentions. To change that perspective, I needed to go back and challenge those assumptions. Was she really acting out of spite, or was I projecting my own frustration? By altering that “block” in my belief chain, I was able to shift my perspective and find a more peaceful way forward.
The Dual Nature of Perspective
The process of choosing points can either limit or empower us. If we choose to attach rigid beliefs or assumptions, our perspectives narrow, restricting our ability to see other possibilities. But when we choose points like empathy, compassion, or curiosity, we open ourselves to new perspectives and opportunities.
It’s easy to say, ‘Choose empathy!’ but let’s be real, sometimes it feels more like, ‘Choose vengeance and a mental playlist of dramatic revenge songs.
In both the examples of the workplace dismissal and my co-parenting frustration, choosing empathy or letting go of expectations allowed for a broader, more empowering perspective. In contrast, holding onto rigid beliefs about someone’s intentions can limit our ability to see the full picture.
Embrace the Power of Perspective
How many lines can you draw through one single point? Infinite.
But once we add a second point, the line we draw is determined by the choices we make. Whether it’s the beliefs we hold or the expectations we set, our perspectives are built on the connections we create between moments, thoughts, and experiences.
Sometimes, shifting our perspective means choosing a different point — like empathy, compassion, or curiosity. Other times, it means going back and reevaluating the points we started with, changing our expectations, or challenging long-held beliefs.
The power of perspective lies in our ability to shape it. We have the tools to choose how we connect the points of our lives, and by doing so, we can find peace, understanding, and growth in even the most difficult situations.
So, what perspectives might you create if you intentionally choose the points you connect?
