Right now, I’m in the middle of writing a chapter in my book that talks about perspective and it’s ability to—once changed—help you overcome negative thinking and anxiety.

I was thinking about adding this story to that chapter, but I already have a few sprinkled throughout it. And since this one’s on the shorter side, I realized it’d be even better for a 3-minute newsletter.

So here we are.

In 1962, President John F. Kennedy was touring the NASA space center as we were in the midst of the Space Race between the Soviet Union.

During his visit, he noticed a janitor carrying a broom and walked over to introduce himself. He asked, “What do you do here?”

The janitor paused for a second, then said, “I’m helping put a man on the moon.”

He didn’t say he was sweeping floors or cleaning bathrooms. He didn’t even say he was just a janitor. He changed his perspective and saw his job as part of a bigger mission. He understood that every job at NASA meant something and everyone was there to commit to the one goal of putting a man on the moon.

I think we could learn something from this Janitor in that we get to choose our own reality. As real as it may be, everyone has a different way of looking at the world. Whether it’s a win you had or a mistake you made, you choose what filter you interpret it.

And it’s that filter that contributes to your overthinking and anxiety.

For example, two people could be working the exact same job. The exact same hours and work under the exact same people. Yet, have two entirely different feelings about it. Hopefully you’re not someone who hates yours, but once you realize your perspective can change, so can your mental state.

And just like in the story, it starts with expanding what’s in front of you and looking at whatever you’re concerned about from every angle. Life is kind of a like a gift bag—that silver lining everyone talks about? It’s not on the outside where you can see it. You gotta change your perspective and look inside to see what’s good.

You get to choose your reality. And as someone who only lives once, you might as well make it a good one.

Until next time,
Isaiah Taylor

Dive Deeper

What I’m Currently Reading - I’m still in the middle of reading Discourses by Epictetus. A stoic philosophers collections of lectures written by his student Arian.

Quote Of The Week - “Nothing happens to anyone that they can’t endure.” — Marcus Aurelius