Feeling a Little Down: Change Your Perspective, Find the Little Hot Dog

If you ever saw the movie Ratatouille then you may remember the scene where Anton Ego, the food critic, says "That's it. I would like some fresh, clear, well seasoned perspective." Sometimes we all need that. We especially need it when we want to change how we are feeling. Here is a little trick to remember how to change your perspective.

If you were a dog you do it by shaking your body: you know like when they come out of the water and they shake or they just wake up and they shake. They are just changing their perspective. But since dogs do not usually read these posts, let me explain how you can find that little hot dog that may make all the difference whether you are in Frisco, San Jose or New York City.

I want you to take your two index fingers and put them fingertip to fingertip. Now move them into your line of sight. You should be looking at your two fingertips. aren't they nice and clean? Now I want you to keep your fingertips in view but instead of focusing on your fingertips change your focus to the wall or some other object in the distance (keeping your fingertips in your view.) Now it is time to find the hot dog.

If you have done this correctly you will see something you did not see before. That's right you found that little weenie between your fingertips. It wasn't there a minute ago and now it is. That is how easy it is for you to change and get a fresh, new, clear, well seasoned perspective. 

Just shifting your focus, changing your stance, moving in a different manner can provide you a new perspective. Don't believe me then watch Dead Poets Society. In that movie, John Keating, played by Robin Williams, says "I stand upon my desk to remind myself that we must constantly look at things in a different way."

So next time when you are feeling down and want to change how you feel, find that little hot dog in your life by shifting your focus even just a little bit or take a bigger leap and jump on a desk. Take a good look around because things are going to look differently.