3 Ways to Change Your Perspective

03e8589eb38e9e0a610f7ee115d36b67

“As you begin changing your thinking, start immediately to change your behavior. Begin to act the part of the person you would like to become.” – John Maxwell

Have you ever met someone who had a lot of potential, but they lacked self-confidence?

Or, have you ever been on a team that had talent, but when you looked in their eyes, they didn’t believe that they could win?

I remember a time when I doubted my ability to play football when I was in high school. Even though I loved playing the game, I wasn’t sure if I could play at a highly competitive level. Those doubts became more justified when I dropped a potentially game-winning pass against our rival that resulted in us losing the game.

I felt like a failure. At the time my talent didn’t matter. The only thing I could think of was the fact that I failed and let my team down.

I’m sure there have been times in your life when you could relate with my feelings of failure. However, today, let’s talk about how I went from feeling like a failure to believing I was the best player on the field. Though there were some things I did on my own, I also needed the help of others to change my perspective of myself and my potential. 

Here are 3 ways to help change your perspective and maximize your potential:

Understand That Your Perspective Is Skewed

Do you remember the county fairs or carnivals that had the Fun House Mirrors? I remember going in there and being shocked with what I looked like as I perceived myself in the mirrors. I would look big, tall, or small depending on the type of mirror I was looking into at the time. 

Many times when we think of ourselves, we can see ourselves with a distorted view, i.e. a Fun House view. We can put so much focus on our weaknesses and mistakes that they become larger than they really are. If we’re not careful, we can become consumed with our distorted perception.  

Give yourself permission to reflect on what you do well just as much (if not more) than what you do poorly. Think about what’s right with you, not just what’s wrong.

You Need Someone Who Believes in You

People in your life also play an important role in changing your perspectives. The people around you will either be adding value to your life and building you up, or they will be subtracting from your life and tearing you down.

Make sure you surround yourself with people that give you energy and support your passion and purpose in life. They should encourage and believe in you when things are hard and when you become discouraged. By giving you fresh and honest feedback, they will help to keep you grounded and on track.  

Be Willing to Fail Again

Fear, shame, and guilt are crippling. Most people never fulfill their potential because they hold themselves back with negative self-talk, and a fear of repeating a previous failure.

When you hear the stories of those that have been successful in business or sports, you will see a common theme of learning lessons from failure that prepared them for future success. Developing a champion’s mentality that doesn’t crumble if the initial product launch fails, or if you miss the game-winning shot, is crucial. There is a learning opportunity in failure that produces future success.

Champions never quit.  Learn from failure and don’t be afraid to try again.


If you’re ready to remove the self-doubt from your life and thrive to the best of your abilities, let Unlock the Champion join the team. We focus on empowering work professionals, athletes, coaches, students, and more to go out and generate positive results. We know how life can get you down, but our professional coaches are here and ready to help, including executive coaching, community engagement services, and more. Browse our site to learn more about our dedication to creating healthy cultures for healthy leaders, and be sure to contact us if you need assistance!