in a new light

From a new, typically more positive perspective. Now that I know more about the way it will work, I've been seeing the proposed legislation in a new light. You really start to think about your parents in a new light once you have children of your own. A: "I had another nice chat with Alec the other day. I'm starting to see him in a new light." B: "Yeah, he's really not the doofus we went to high school with. He's grown up a lot."