How Attitude Determines What We See

“we become so focused on what is wrong that we fail to see what is right”

One of the most important lessons in life is that our attitude often determines what we see. Two people can look at the exact same situation and come away with completely different conclusions. In his book Resolved: 13 Resolutions for Life, Orrin Woodward teaches that attitude is a choice. We may not always control our circumstances, but we do control how we respond to them.

This idea is found throughout Parashat Balak.

Balak looked at the Israelite people and saw a threat. Fear shaped his attitude, and that attitude led him to seek out Bilaam to curse the nation. His negative attitude prevented him from seeing the bigger picture. Instead of seeing a people protected by HaShem, he saw only danger. Instead of seeing possibilities for diplomacy, coexistence, or trust in HaShem, Balak assumed the worst and his attitude shaped his actions. How often do our attitudes create problems before any real problem exists?

Bilaam shows us the difference between seeing and understanding when we struggle with attitude. Although he was given opportunities to understand HaShem's will, his desire for honor and reward clouded his judgment. He continued to seek a way to fulfill Balak’s wishes. His attitude influenced the way he interpreted everything that happened around him. Even when his donkey saw the angel standing in the road, Bilaam failed to see what was right in front of him. Sometimes attitude blinds a person more than lack of intelligence or knowledge. We may have all the information we need, but a negative or self-serving attitude can prevent us from seeing the truth.

How often does this happen to us? Sometimes our attitude blinds us to the blessings, opportunities, and lessons that HaShem places before us. We become so focused on what is wrong that we fail to see what is right.

The turning point of the parsha comes when Bilaam looks at the Israelite and, instead of cursing them, blesses them. Suddenly, he sees something different. He recognizes their beauty, their uniqueness, and their relationship with HaShem. The people did not change. What changed was what he was able to see.

This is one of the great lessons of attitude. Our circumstances may remain the same, but our perspective can completely change. A negative attitude focuses on problems. A positive attitude focuses on possibilities. A grateful attitude focuses on blessings.

The entire parsha revolves around perspective. Balak sees a threat. Bilaam initially seeks personal gain. HaShem reveals a nation blessed with purpose and destiny. The facts remain the same; the attitude changes. An attitude can transform:

A challenge into an opportunity.

A criticism into a lesson.

A rival into a teacher.

A burden into a mission.

Parashat Balak teaches that before changing our circumstances, we often need to change the lens through which we view them.

In addition, Parashat Balak reminds us that we should ask ourselves: What am I choosing to see? Am I looking at life through the lens of fear, negativity, and frustration, or through the lens of faith, gratitude, and growth? The answer often determines not only what we see, but also who we become.