Eternal, Internal, External
"The significant problems we have cannot be solved at the same level of thinking with which we created them."
Albert Einstein
This Perspective teaches that with any decision to be made, always look at the big picture first through God-filtered glasses,
followed by looking inwardly at the needs and wants of others as well as ourselves, and finish with looking at the physical
circumstances we find ourselves in. Once seeing the situation in this order, we can then make a Scriptural decision and
act on it, just as Christ did. [2 Corinthians 4:16-18]
Eternal Thinking- Here, one looks at the big picture, long-term perspective of a situation. We rise above
a situation and look at it from a bird's eye point of view. As Einstein said, we must rise to a higher level of perception
and awareness to be able to successfully deal with the problems we are standing in the middle of. We look at other circumstances
that may affect that situation, that we cannot see while we are in the midst of it. We can also begin to see what may have
happened previously, leading up to those events and sometimes, most importantly, we can look up the road to see what effects
our decisions will have on future events. We can look at the long term, big picture ramifications. We think Eternally.
Internal Thinking (of Others) – Getting into the minds and hearts of others, we look at situations and
ideas from their point of view. We empathize with them, trying to understand their feelings and thoughts and needs and wants.
We put ourselves in their shoes. We think Internally-Others.
Internal Thinking (of Self) – We look inward, introspectively. We ask ourselves what our own feelings and
thoughts and needs and wants are. We look at the world from a natural, self-centric perspective; how the world interacts
with us, and what would be best for us in any given situation. We think Internally-Self.
External Thinking – We focus on the circumstances and factors surrounding us and affecting us. We look
at the parameters or limits of a situation, any constraints or immediate or pressing needs. Regardless of personal needs
or long-term ramifications, we look to what needs to be done now and within what boundaries. We think Externally.
For some, we tend to focus predominantly on one of the categories. Maybe we always seek self-gratification, regardless of
what others need. Maybe it is the opposite, and we constantly put others before ourselves, at the cost of our own happiness.
Maybe we only look at the here and now, at the 'real' world, ignoring personal desires and unable to picture long-term consequences.
Or maybe we are so focused on the future, that we forget where we are stepping; we prepare for the future at the cost of
the present. The best thing that we can do is to acknowledge, understand and contemplate all four categories. This will
allow us to get the most complete picture available, and allow us to make the wisest decision for any situation, once we
have fully understood all the needs, both future and present, as well as all the wants, both personal and of others.
The order in which we think on these things is just as important. Typically, many of us tend to think in a common order.
First, we tend to look and focus on the situation around us, what is happening to us rather than within
us. We look outward, at the External. We perceive and measure and evaluate our environment, and then we determine a course
of action. Depending on the individual or the situation, we may also, before we take action or afterward, look inward at
the Internal. If we are conscious of these types of things, we ask ourselves how this situation is affecting us, and why
we feel the way we do, and what is it that we want. Some, whether later or at that time, also may think Internally of others,
those who are around us in that situation. We ask ourselves what might they be feeling or why were they acting in that way,
and how they may have been affected by the decisions made, and what are their wishes. And then, for some of us, we may also,
after looking outward and then inward, look upward. We look at the long-term, asking ourselves what are the results for
tomorrow of decisions made today. We ask ourselves if there are any future factors to consider that we need to consider
today. We think Eternally.
Unfortunately, if we tend to handle situations in this order, Externally, Internally-self, Internally-others, Eternally,
we often find that we could have made wiser decisions, but by then it is already too late. In an age of speed and quick
return, especially here in the USA, patience is not a virtue of ours. We tend to respond to situations themselves directly
and very quickly, even if it is not a crisis, because that is what we can easily and quickly focus on. Thinking about feelings
and broader perspectives, especially when it involves other people, can be much more difficult to do. And while each person
and each situation is different, and the order in which we evaluate things may vary each time, the basic principle is here.
Oftentimes, we tend to react to the external circumstances before we think of the internal effects on ourselves and others
or any eternal consequences.
And we need to realign the order. When faced with a tough situation, and we would argue 'any' situation, we should first
take our time and evaluate all the factors. Even in sudden situations where an 'immediate' response is required, we can,
with practice, still think through this chain of perspectives in but mere moments. Our brain is an incredibly powerful tool
and it is easily up to the challenge of thinking through and evaluating a situation in just seconds. We believe as a business
principle, as a personal principal, even a political principle and more, thinking in the reverse order will provide a much
clearer picture, a more crystal vision, of what is happening, and having that knowledge, that understanding, will allow
us to make a wiser decision. Yes, it is more time consuming, and probably more difficult to do so at first but as we know,
nothing comes easily. Practice makes perfect, and all those other 'clichés'. So we recommend that you try it for yourself.
Start with a situation that you can take time in resolving or handling, and consciously view the situation eternally first,
then internally others, next internally self, and then finally externally with the various factors involved. Then make your
decision.
Take the example of a puzzle. The most important piece of a puzzle is the box cover. Without it, you may still be able to
put the puzzle together, but you will have a much tougher time of it. While you may not need the box cover to put the corner
pieces and edge pieces together, you will still have a difficult time with everything else in the middle. While you may
get the outside pieces together in your life, the inside pieces may still be a jumble. All the different shapes are overwhelming,
but even the colors and shadings on each piece only bring you so far. With that box cover, you can see easily, at a glance,
where to group basic colors and images. And then upon closer inspection, you can go into more detail and refine your groupings,
until there are just a few pieces in each grouping, and then you can focus on how they fit with one another. While it makes
good sense to look at the shapes of each individual piece and put them together one at a time, it makes even more sense
to use the box cover as a guideline, and it will dramatically speed up the process.
So throughout this site, and even in any situation you may find yourself in your life, take a moment to look at the box
cover of what is being talked about or decided upon. Look for patterns. Get a feel for the whole picture. And then move
in and focus on one of the details. If we discuss a topic or idea or truth at this site that at first you do not understand,
step back and look at the overall theme, and it may help you with the individual piece of section you are reading. If someone
does something to you that makes no sense to you, before you pass judgment, take a step back and look at all the other possible
factors that may have influenced that person's decision. It may just bring things into light and make them clearer.
The next major perspective relates to three of the most common verbs in the English language. Continue on to
Be, Do, Have
16Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day
by day. 17For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them
all. 18So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what
is unseen is eternal.