“What Do You See?”

Land view vs. Aerial view (Your Outlook determines Outcome)

The next time you are faced with a situation, decision or challenge ask yourself am I looking at the aerial or ground view of my situation? The good news is you can change your view which will change your outlook and eventually your outcome. So, what is the difference between an aerial or ground view?

Photography gives us great examples of both. Ground photography is the traditional form of capturing images, where the photographer operates the camera at ground level. There are indeed limitations or cons of the ground view (here are a few):

• Perspective is limited. The same scene or subject might look vastly different and perhaps more compelling when viewed from above, which is something ground photography cannot achieve.
• Your view can be obstructed which makes it difficult to capture clean, uncluttered images.
• Space constraints- difficult to capture the full breadth of the scene you are looking at.

 There are some pros too for viewing things from a ground too:

• Features in the foreground usually appear larger; features further away appear smaller.
• Captures intricate details, revealing the texture and minutiae that would be impossible from a distance. 
•  Offers the opportunity for a more controlled environment.

In practical ways how would a land/ground view of our world affect us? I am glad you asked! See below:

• Our problems/challenges can obstruct our view.
• Because we have limited views we can be tempted to be intimidated by our circumstances.
• Tempted to believe the report of man versus the report of God’s Word for our lives.
• What we see often can feel insurmountable, impossible, and too large to overcome (ex. giants in the land)
• Our vision for our life is shaped by our senses (see, feel hear, touch, and smell).
• We have a tendency to give up when we are faced with setbacks in our lives.
• We can be tempted to speak our circumstances rather than what God promises us about our situation.
• We focused on giants rather than the God of the impossible
• On a more positive note, we can see the small snares/traps that we wouldn’t be able to see with a broader view.

What about an Aerial View?  Also known as a bird’s eye view. This is the viewpoint seen at a high elevation. 

The Pros are:

• Changes Perspective
• Provides a holistic picture
• Potential for unobstructed views

The Cons are:

• Additional cost and investment
• Weather dependency- may face delays or cancellations due to unpredictable weather changes.
• Increased knowledge required
• Higher risks potential

How do I know if I am viewing life through an aerial view?

Aerial view characteristics are:

• Ability to see beyond my current situation or see the big picture.
• Perspective is not shaped by senses but by vision.
• Resist jumping to conclusions and making assumptions.
• Out of Box thinker
• Forward Thinker
• Optimistic rather than Pessimistic
• Determination supersedes circumstances
• Feel fear but forges ahead anyway!
• Declare, Decree and Believe God’s Words personally no matter what it feels or looks like.
• You see it before you see it with your natural eyes
• You are not moved by your current circumstances

What is the purpose of aerial view?

 Having “aerial vision” in our lives can serve several purposes:

• Helps us to walk by faith and not by sight
• Helps us to overcome the naysayers we often encounter
• Gives you the strength and determination when everything appears to be impossible

Great example is the story of Joshua and Caleb in Numbers 13:30-33. They had a “aerial view” of the promised land. ³⁰ And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it. However, the twelve spies had a ground or land view of the promised land. ³¹ But the men that went up with him said, We be not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we. ³³ And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight.

Again, the next time you are faced with a situation or challenge ask yourself am I looking at the aerial or ground view of this situation? The good news is you can change your view which will change your perspective and eventually your outcome. Changing your view/perspective can reduce stress and anxiety. By changing your perspective, you can learn to focus on the positive aspects of your life, rather than getting stuck in negative thought patterns. Also, it can help you build resilience, increase creativity and improve relationships. In addition, this can help you achieve your goals.

Drone Photography, JRR Aerial Imaging, 2020

Blessings,

Dr.G

Myrtle Greene, PhD, LMHC, CAP, ICADC