If there is one thing I would love to have in life, it is to have as wide and as deep a perception that we can gain on any of our life situations. At least those that are troubling us currently or those that have long term consequences. Too often, we either due to lack of training, or lack of time or even our lack of wisdom we tend to have too narrow view of our situation and make snap judgments. Based on those, we arrive at quick decisions and take fast actions only to regret later in life.

The best we do, is do a little thinking (if at all we do) or ask around. We take it for granted our friends and relatives (with due respects to them) are better equipped than we are. If they had been to the same schools that we had been to or live in the same neighborhood, chances are their perception of our problems would be no better than our own. More likely they would tell us what we want to hear.

To put this discussion into perspective may I suggest you see this movie (a good one in my opinion) Gone Baby Gone. Torn between professional ethics and common sense or personal obligations, Casey Affleck (Patrick Kenzie in the movie) has to choose and make the right decision. For that he has to have the right perspective and not see life through his ‘little window’ as Morgan Freeman (his adversary in the movie) suggests. Quite true.

Incidentally do we ever realize why rich get richer and have enviable life styles? It is because they seek professional help. They are able to hire professional consultants in many walks of their life. They hire (the best their money can buy, to do better in life) a personal trainer, a lawyer, a physician, an investment adviser or even a life coach!

So how do we gain a wider perception (a.k.a wisdom)? I am not an expert, but I think for a start we can do the following:

Reading. Reading quality books that make us think. Even if we read only gossip columns, or sensational stories let us pause for a moment and think. Suppose we read: ‘George Clooney broke up with Sarah Larson’, a moment of reflection as to why the relationship went sour may not get us to the truth, but that habit will help us in our life.

Thinking. In our moment of quietness (granted, aloneness is often difficult to procure these days) let us do some organized thinking. In this respect Edward De Bono’s books on ‘how to think’ are great help.

Watching Biography Channel on TV would help us to get in to the minds of people.

Watching quality movies. Movies in my opinion are great help. Because in just 2 hours, the story writer, the director, the actors and all the others who do their best to make the movie a success, give us intense focus and help us to bear upon a life situation

Hiring professional help whenever we need to and can afford. Professionals have specialized education and are trained in their fields. They make their living out of it and so they are good to get our fees.