What lens are you using? Everybody has a general lens through which they see the world. Read the following descriptions and see which one, or which combination of descriptions, you think best describes your general point of view toward life. The Me Lens This is a lens in which everything that happens in the world is evaluated in terms of how it affects you. You evaluate things in terms of what's in it for you or what impact something will have on you. The Peer Lens This lens causes you to evaluate your entire world based on what others think about you. If you feel you have gained peer approval, you feel successful. You're the type who thinks that there is nothing more important in life than being accepted by the right group of friends. They are the foundation of your life. The "Im In Love" Lens This is somewhat similar to the Peer Lens, but it's worse. In this lens, everything in your life is dependent on having a boyfriend or girlfriend. You totally measure your self-worth as a function of whether somebody else is in love with you or not. The Material Lens This lens causes you to relate to the world in a comparative way. You are totally tuned in to material wealth and focus on what your possessions are versus the possessions of others. The Achievement Lens You measure your self-worth totally as a function of what you have accomplished. You are obsessed with grades, club and committee membership, and awards or distinctions in your life. There is little room for evaluating yourself or others on the basis of character The Authority Lens This lens causes you to be totally focused on how you are relating to those in your life who have authority. You are either obsessed about gaining their approval, or you are equally obsessed with rebelling against their control. Either way, your obsession dominates your every thought, feeling, and action. The Victim Lens Viewing the world through this lens causes you to be obsessed with how you are being hurt or victimized by the world. Things are seldom, if ever, your fault, and you tend to believe that the world is, in fact, out to get you. The Hate Lens With this lens, you see enemies behind every tree, waiting to drag you down. You know that when people say something nice to you, there is probably a hidden motive somewhere. The Safety Lens You see life as a place where it's better to be safe than sorry. You never take a risk because you don't trust yourself to handle the pain of failure. The thing about all of these lenses is that they give you a very decided view of the world. But most important, they are all based on choices you have made about how you see the world. Remember, you can change your lenses.