Myopic perspective. I don’t know about you, but this is something I sometimes struggle with because I’m too close, I’m too involved, I’m too emotional. I’m too________(fill-in-the-blank). Myopic thinking – lack of discernment or long-rage perspective in thinking or planning – is a challenge for many of us.

Whether you need glasses or a new attitude, if you can’t see the forest for the trees, you’re myopic. (Source: YouTube/QuestionTray)

Who has episodes of myopic vision? Everyone. Who should be open to searching beyond the short-sided vision of myopia? Everyone.

For anyone (and everyone) who is making a change in their life, it is critical to be open to new options for living, to broaden horizons so to speak. Old habits must be replaced with new routines. And often, friends from the past must be left behind to allow room for new, positive role models, mentors, coaches and friends. In the world of addiction and recovery, this is true for everyone who wants to be more than sober, for those who want to truly recover from their addiction.

In the same way myopic thinking stifles growth and rebirth in an individual seeking to change their lives, it works adversely to stifle growth and advancement in the corporate world. Effective leaders must be adaptable and visionary to prevent their teams and organizations from becoming stale and outdated. Fast-lane leadership requires myopic vision only when maneuvering through deadlines and crises, both of which have been preceded by thoughtful consideration, team input, respectful discussion and mindfulness.

New ideas, fresh perspectives, and respectful dialogue are critical for growth and progression leading to creative, collaborative successes.

Myopic and visionary don’t belong in the same sentence.

Myopic thinking limits your success. It stops creativity. It blocks imagination. Visionary thinking allows creative discussions about what might be (imagination), what can be (success), and how to make it happen (creativity).

This week we’ve taken time off. It’s the first time in more than a year we are not working on 10,000 Beds or our speaking business. And to be honest, it’s given me a new perspective, a broader view of where we are, where we’ve been, and most importantly, where we want to be.

Moving forward, we will be scheduling more staycations, more vacations, and allowing ourselves to think more clearly, see the bigger picture and, as a result, become reenergized and renewed in our dedication to helping others through leadership seminars, parenting support, and the 10,000 Beds scholarship program for individuals seeking help for addiction. We will still work as hard as we always do, but we will be paying a bit more attention to self-care, healthy eating, healthy living, and healthy thinking.

Thank God for peripheral vision and our willingness to listen to others, thank God for board members who care, friends who support, colleagues who are committed. Combined, all of these together prevent tunnel vision and staleness in our personal lives, our business associations, and our nonprofit organization.

Myopia has only one place: love and respect for our brothers and sisters

I rarely include spiritual or religious commentary in my blog posts, but today it seems appropriate. Sometimes our myopia is a result of forgetting there is a greater purpose to life. This article helped me understand another’s perspective on this, I hope you’ll read and find something that helps you as well.

Working with individuals battling addiction, speaking with leaders who are responsible for their company and their team, and counseling with families, we find there is a single requirement to be effective in our work to help them reach their goal and become the best they can be: we must approach everyone – the addict, the parent, the professional – with love and respect, recognizing their unique role and purpose in this life and always remembering their choices are their choices. In that, we can and will be myopic.

Highlights from the article:

  • Keeping my “eye” single to the glory of God is keeping my mindset devoted in love to others and their potential. I must see each person as a child of God, worthy of respect and consideration.
  • Keeping an eye single to the glory of God is here associated with being filled with faith, hope, charity, and love. These specific attributes are essential to lifting others to their full potential.Thus a mindset that is single to the glory of God is one that is full of sincere and true love for others.
  • Contemplating what it means to truly love others, I’m reminded of Kant’s moral imperative wherein he defines ethical behavior in that we do not treat others as “means-only” but as “ends.” In other words, we respect others as children of God with divine potential.In particular, I think this means that we must respect the agency of each person.

Take a moment to assess your view, personally and professionally. Are you open to new ideas, new opportunities? Do you allow colleagues and friends into your life?

Are you an island? Are you myopic? Are you buried in emotional, professional and physical stress?

Life is better when we are not alone. Life is better when we broaden our perspective. Life is better when we take care of ourselves.

Be the best you can be by opening your heart and mind to others and to new experiences. And take a step away to change your perspective. You won’t believe the difference!


Jean Krisle is a motivational keynote speaker, extraordinary fast-lane leader, and the CEO/Founder of 10,000 Beds, Inc. a 501c3 nonprofit organization. The mission of 10,000 Beds is to connect those seeking help for addiction to those who are willing to help by providing addiction treatment scholarships.

Jean connects with audiences to provide inspiration to leaders, clients, teams and organizations. She focuses on fast-lane leadership – a compilation of proven steps to taking the FastLane2Success and the reality of success often following failure. Her popular Keynote Presentation “Failing2Win: The Paradox of Success” instantly engages the audience with identifiable stories and experiences with a strong call to action as she challenges her audience participants to push themselves harder and higher.

Jean and her husband Hal have spent much of 2017 and 2018 #OnTheRoad4Recovery to elevate awareness around addiction, change perceptions of recovery, and inspire fast-lane leadership. You can reach Jean at jean@10000beds.org. You can support 10,000 Beds at 10000beds.org. #onebedonelife #failing2win #fastlaneleadership #fastlaneleaders #ethicsdoneright #fastlane2success