Opinion vs. Perspective: What’s the Difference?
Share viaOpinion vs. perspective: What actually is the difference? An opinion is the result of comparing how your experience compares to your beliefs, i.e. it’s your judgment of how the things you see stack up to how you think they should be.
This is what judges do; they compare the presented facts of the case against the law and render an opinion.
Consider this about opinions (vs. perspective):
- They are not facts. They are a personal judgment of how the facts compare to your beliefs.
- They are not beliefs. They are only a reflection of your beliefs.
- They are not THE truth. They are only a reflection of YOUR truth.
- They are a valuable part of who you are and how you see the world.
- They are only your perspective, nothing more, nothing less.
There’s more:
- Opinions are one of six human perceptions built into our personality. In other words, there are five other ways of experiencing the world.
- Opinions are the strongest perception for 10% of the population. So, 90% of the world has a different angle.
- Judges are appointed, and have a limited role to play, only under certain conditions. They respect this and stay in their lane.
If you get too attached to your opinions:
- You might seek out those 10% who might see things similarly, and convince yourself this is how everyone sees things.
- You might think you are right, and everyone else is wrong. Meanwhile,
- You could lose touch with reality.
- You will miss 90% of what’s going on around you
- You will appoint yourself everyone’s judge without consent.
- You might alienate the very people you are trying to influence.
- Your self-righteous arrogance will conceal how dark and scary things are below the surface.
Opinions don’t make you right or wrong. They make you a unique and valuable human, just like everyone else. But if you don’t recognize that opinions are just perspectives, you might become ineffective and irrelevant.
What would happen if you accepted that there are many different perceptions, all valid, and learned how to see the world as others see it?
Copyright Next Element Consulting, LLC, 2022
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2 Comments
I have the opportunity to serve as the CFO of HRHS. Many of my responsibilities are neither opinion or perspective but factual. HR (law on employee handling/treatment/pay practices), IT (cyber security, connectivity of health information … some opinion and perspective here), Accounting (10+10+10 always equals 30 unless over a period of time and interest or PVFCF comes into play, Revenue Cycle (bill according to defined parameters or do not get paid or take the chance of being litigated), PBX (wrong number to connect equals wrong person), Registration (in correct identifiers – impact patient care and revenue cycle), Payroll (wrong rate equals wrong check) . . . . impacting work and every aspect of my life ( or at least I strive for this) to honor Christ in my life (often fail). A part of this is truly caring for and loving others well.
A final fact . . . . just as 2+2 =4, every one will have a talk with Jesus some day. Others may have an opinion or perspective that differs, but this will not change the finality for eternity that each person will ultimately face.
Thanks so much for your comment, Duane. For all of your important responsibilities, it’s a good thing you pay attention to the facts. Did you know that Thoughts/Facts/Logic is also one of the six perceptual frames of reference? It is shared by 25% of the population.
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Well, I was intrigued by your article Nate, and to be honest, I’m slightly disappointed. Your use of the word “belief” gives me an impression of a devaluation of opinions or a generalization of the risks associated with opinions.
I think that the example of the judges gives us an interesting place to look at how judgments (which is what they deliver) come to be. I’d call it professional opinion – with at its base principles and values they will use to interpret how the facts relate to the law. They are doing a work that is grounded in something that is accessible and come to a conclusion in a way others can understand (not necessarily need to agree with).
Coming to a conclusion or opinion is the basis of every decision. And to me, the professionalism of that work isn’t considered in your article. That might be based on a belief 🙂 the one that the word beliefs in the large sense you seem to use is commonly understood (at least in the coaching world) as being based on outdated facts.
Whereas an opinion can very well be based on beliefs that are constantly updated with current facts.
Naturally, it is clear to me, that a) it’s logical I jump onto this article b) the perception of how positive or negative someone else perceives the word belief or what you have written is entirely mine and might not have been your intention c) I fear misinterpretations that opinions are coming out of the hot air 😉
Thank you for your comment and perspective, Francoise. Indeed, the work of Judges is very professional and intentional. The only part of your comment I would disagree with is, “Whereas an opinion can very well be based on beliefs that are constantly updated with current facts.” This is not an accurate general assumption to make about beliefs. If beliefs were constantly updated with current facts, they wouldn’t be beliefs, they would just be new, more informed conclusions. For the PCM-ers out there, this more of a Thinker-based definition of beliefs.
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