Different Angle

It was a beautiful Saturday morning a few weeks ago. My friend and I had been for a swim, had breakfast and were walking back down to where I'd parked. Love starting the weekend this way, but then in an instant my mind began to wander. From my angle there was suddenly a potential challenge to be navigated that had consumed my thoughts.

"The primary cause of unhappiness is never the situation but your thoughts about it." - Eckhart Tolle

'How would I get out?' 'Will I be able to get to where I'm going next on time?' 'How will I find one of the drivers to move their car?' From distance my angle had the car in front and behind of mine so close that I'd never be able to get out. This train of thought meant I couldn't be fully present within the conversation I was still having with my friend. Or prepare effectively to respond if there was an actual challenge to navigate. What happened next was a great reminder.

"Everything we hear is an opinion, not a fact. Everything we see is a perspective, not the truth." - Marcus Aurelius

There was room. I was able to get out without too many turns. If I'd only chosen to view this situation from a different angle it would of provided access to a completely different train of thoughts that I'd been able to finish the fantastic morning off with. Rather than get curious about, challenge and be open to viewing what I thought was from a different angle, I fell hook, line and sinker for the one perspective that I'd decided was the truth. A great reminder indeed.

"Look at situations from all angles, and you will become more open." - Dalai Lama