1st Position : Self, from one’s own eyes – total self-reference.
2nd Position : Other, from eyes of another person – total other-reference.
3rd Position : External Viewer, from any other position – totally dissociated.
4th Position : From the perspective of the system – associated in the perspective of the whole system.
5th Position : From the perspective of the universe – taking on multiple perceptual positions with ability to change rapidly among them.
When you associate into your own body, you live in First position. This permits you to look at the world from your own viewpoint.
Second position means you walk in the other person’s shoes. You imagine yourself entering the other person’s body. In this position you imagine looking at yourself through their eyes. Second position offers an extremely valuable model in deepening rapport.
Third position offers a way of dissociating from the entire event. You become an independent observer. “How would this event look to someone totally uninvolved?” You can see both yourself and the other person.
In the Fourth position, we have “associated in the perspective of the whole system.” To take fourth position, step aside and adopt the perspective of the whole system so that you can there consider what would contribute to the best interest of the system. A linguistic format for this position goes: “If we consider our common goals…”
Fifth position results from applying the universal quantifiers (all, always) to our perspective. This provides the widest and largest-level perspective of all.
Everyone moves from one position to the other. For most, moving from one position to another flows with everyday life. The ability to move from one to the other, either consciously or unconsciously, permits one to act with wisdom and respond appropriately. By moving among the perceptual positions, you will add richness and choice to your conversations.
Not what you’re given.
Not what you need.
So if you don’t believe, don’t concede.
Disagree.
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