“Is the glass half full, or half empty? It depends on whether you’re pouring or drinking it.” ~ Bill Cosby

People love to answer alternate choice questions.

This or that? Red or blue? Republican or Democrat? Three or four? Science or religion?

But the better answer is often found elsewhere. I read somewhere recently that a number of people answered the age-old alternate choice question: “Which is the preferable perspective, seeing a glass as being half full or half empty” with a surprising response when polled not too long ago.

“Neither.”

In fact, the answer most given by this group is that the proximity of the faucet – the source of the water – is more important than how you view the glass itself. While I’m not sure that this example holds much water, it does point to the fact that we as voters, consumers and thinking men and women are wise to look beyond the obvious choices for solutions to our modern day problems.

When a third choice or solution is not offered, ask yourself why? Should there be? Is there another way of looking at the problem altogether? Appearances are often deceiving. Is the solution set based solely on the surface appearance, or is there a way to address the deeper issues, the underlying cause? I wish, for instance, that more emphasis were placed on prevention of disease than fighting over which intervention is best, once it has already manifested.

You are wise to have tools do you have at your disposal to assist you with perspective management. Some of the tools I’ve discovered along the way might help you widen your vision at critical times:

• Reaching out to a carefully cultivated group of advisers. Frequently the most beneficial are those who have no stake in the matter. Really listen to what they have to say. They’ll likely offer more than just confirmation that you are always right.
• Engaging in some form of physical exercise, deep breathing or stretching. Get your mind off the problem for a moment or two. Sometimes we are our worst enemies when it comes to effective and efficient problem solving!
• Participating in an activity you’ve never tried before. The change in pace can work wonders!
• Reading something completely unrelated to the topic confounding you. I’m often surprised at the parallels that can be drawn and how the lessons in one activity can port over to another. Read how lessons learned by flight crews are helping surgical teams reduce errors and you’ll understand what I mean.

Best wishes for more creative problem solving!