The Sage Perspective

In building a business, pursuing creative work, or enhancing your relationships, you’re guaranteed to encounter feedback. Depending on your perspective and mental “toolbox,” feedback can either knock you off course or become a powerful catalyst for your next level of growth. This is where The Sage Perspective comes in—a core philosophy I teach and embody in all my work.

In my recent article, “Everything Looks Like a Nail,” I shared a simple yet powerful insight.

when the only tool in your mental toolbox is a hammer, everything tends to look like a nail. Most of us default to our rational mind, approaching every challenge with logic alone. This often serves us well, but as I outlined, it’s limiting—especially when life presents us with situations that demand more nuance, creativity, or compassion.

This is where The Sage Perspective becomes game-changing.

At its heart, The Sage Perspective invites you to see that everything—not just obvious successes, but also setbacks and even painful feedback—can be turned into a gift or opportunity.

Instead of seeing the world through the narrow binary lens of problem/solution, right/wrong, you open a vastly bigger toolbox, complete with the Five Sage Powers: Empathize, Explore, Innovate, Navigate, and Activate.

Let’s apply this Sage Perspective directly to the often-triggering subject of feedback.

When you’re operating from a “hammer” mindset, feedback can feel threatening—just another “nail” to pound into place or fix. Saboteur voices show up, interpreting every piece of input as criticism, and it’s easy to become defensive or disheartened. But as I suggested in “Everything Looks Like a Nail,” the world—and your business—require a diversity of tools. Feedback, when approached with Sage wisdom, becomes a resource rather than a roadblock.

Start with Sage Power Empathize. Before analyzing, pause to recognize your courage in seeking feedback. Hold compassion for yourself and honor the act of receiving input; it’s never easy to put yourself out there. From this place of self-kindness, you can actually hear what’s being said, not just what your Judge wants you to hear.

Next, tap into Sage Power Explore. Get curious—not about what’s “wrong,” but about what new perspective or hidden opportunity this feedback might reveal. Explore allows you to approach the information with the questions, “What am I not seeing?” and “Is there a lesson or innovation waiting inside this?” Curiosity keeps you from personalizing the critique.

Sage Power Innovate helps you transform the feedback from a blunt tool into a portal for creativity. Perhaps there’s a way to address the feedback that’s never occurred to you before. As I often advise, try the “Yes, and…” approach—build on what’s offered and let your imagination play freely, imagining new ways forward.

When all is said and done, Sage Power Navigate ensures you use discernment. You don’t have to act on every piece of feedback; instead, check it against your core mission and values. Ask yourself, “Does this make sense for my purpose? Does it truly align with my vision?” Navigate keeps you steady as you sift through advice, well-meaning or otherwise.

Sage Power Activate brings it all together, catalyzing intentional action. Whether that means making a change, reaching out for further discussion, or simply reflecting further, activation is about moving forward in alignment with what you’ve discovered through Sage.

Ultimately, as in “Everything Looks Like a Nail,” broadening your mental toolbox allows you to see challenges and feedback for what they really are: invitations for growth, fuel for progress, and proof that you’re playing the bigger game. Instead of pounding away at every problem, you finesse your way forward with wisdom, creativity, and clarity.

Making It Practical

Let’s make this real:

Imagine you receive critical feedback from a client or colleague. From the Sage Perspective, pause and breathe. Thank your Sage for showing up, and start with empathy (for yourself and the giver). Explore the feedback for any gifts or blind spots. Innovate on ideas—how might you pivot, improve, or reframe your approach? Navigate—does this fit your mission and the impact you want to have? And lastly, Activate—commit to a next right action, however small.

Handled this way, feedback is no longer something to fear. Instead, it’s the fuel for your personal and professional evolution—part of a continuous process of becoming who you’re meant to be.

So, what is the most recent piece of feedback you’ve received? From the Sage Perspective, what opportunity, lesson, or invitation might it contain for you? Let’s dig in together—what would you like to explore next?