Our Perspective Shapes What We See

A woman had a habit.

Every morning, she would look out her kitchen window and complain about the neighbour’s laundry hanging on the clothesline.

“It’s always so dull,” she said. “They don’t even know how to wash properly.” Day after day, she judged what she saw as unclean.

Then, one morning, something changed.

She exclaimed, “Finally! They’ve started washing their clothes properly. Everything looks so clean today.”

Her husband calmly replied, “I cleaned our window this morning.”

It Was Never About the Clothes

The clothes were clean all along. 

The problem wasn’t out there. 

It was on the lens she was looking through.

“Most things don’t need fixing. Our view of them does.”

We See the World Through Our Own Filters

Just like dirty glass distorts a view, bias, assumption, resentment, and ego distort our perception.

• We think someone is arrogant—when we’re feeling insecure

• We believe someone is underperforming—when we’re projecting our own stress

• We assume someone is wrong—when we haven’t even cleaned our facts

“What you see in others often says more about you than it does about them.”

Judgement Is Easy. Reflection Takes Effort.

It’s easy to point fingers. 

It’s harder to ask: “Am I seeing clearly?”

What if:

• That colleague isn’t careless—you’re overwhelmed?

• That friend isn’t distant—you’re distracted?

• That plan isn’t flawed—you’re fearful?

“Before you correct the picture, wipe the lens.”

Shift from Criticism to Clarity

Instead of constantly adjusting others, try adjusting:

• Your attitude

• Your assumptions

• Your attention

Because once the window is clean, the view improves.

Final Thought

The world doesn’t always need improvement. 

Sometimes, it just needs us to clean our perspective.

So before you judge someone’s laundry, make sure it’s not your window that needs cleaning.

“You can’t see clearly through a foggy lens. And you can’t live wisely with a clouded mind.”