Balancing Perspectives--Right or Wrong?
Two weeks ago we started a series on how our perspective influences client care...for better or worse. When it comes right down to it, I only have one perspective: mine. I can say I am open-minded and accepting of others' viewpoints, but every circumstance I encounter is evaluated through the lens of my personal belief system which has been hewn from my life's experiences. That's all I have to work with. That's all anyone has to work with.
In the OT's letter I mentioned on 12-11-07, the author could only see PT from her perspective. Her tone toward PT was decidedly negative. From the letter we cannot discern all that went into her opinion, but we can say with surety that her negative experience is a direct result of her perspective.
As clinicians we have to be willing to acknowledge that we see the world through a very narrow lens that has been colored by our experiences, both good and bad. Others are viewing the exact same situation through an equally narrow lens of an entirely different color. We have to be willing to accept that just because someone evaluates a situation differently than us that doesn't make their opinion wrong, simply different.
Sometimes the best solution we can come up with is to agree to disagree, which is to say you sincerely recognize that you are viewing the same situation through wholly different perspectives, which brings you to different conclusions. Part of that recognition is the revelation that if you had lived their life, walked in their shoes, you might very well have come to their same conclusion.
In weeks to come we'll talk more specifically about how to deal with differing perspectives. I know everyone is still recovering from Christmas. So for now, just identify one area of your life where you are having difficulty allowing another person the right to their perspective, insisting yours is the only "right way". A client? A boss? An employee? A co-worker? A parent? A child? A spouse? If you aren't too spent from the holidays, you can even jot down a specific situation. If you'd like to share anonymously and give us real time examples to tackle, feel free.
Recovering my balance from the holidays with you!
Janey