We all deal with trials and tribulations in our lives. No matter how blessed we feel, situations will arise to challenge that. Often these problems consume us, and we feel like there is no way past them. If you have ever felt like this, then you might need a shift in perspective.
The ability to recognize your problems and then properly put them in perspective is key to our happiness and productivity.
Anyone can learn how to put things in perspective, and these nine tips are the perfect place to get started.
1. Think Beyond This Moment
When you’re actively dealing with a problem, it’ll take up a lot of mental real estate. Things can seem bad and so much worse at the moment. Try to take some time to think about the future. Ask yourself, will this problem still matter five years from now? Ten? Next week? Tomorrow? It can help you put things in perspective when you think about how much any of this will matter with the passage of time.
2. Stop and Consider
When dealing with some issues, your feelings can start forcing facts into the background. Take some time to consider what you are going through. Think about how the event will truly affect you. Consider how bad things really are. Ask yourself if there are any positives to this situation. If there are, focus on those as much as possible.
3. Don’t Treat Your Inner Monologue As Fact
You can’t always trust that little voice in your head. Quite often, our inner dialogue tends to be overly negative. Just like you should question your negative self-talk, you should also question if that voice is blowing things out of proportion.
I can’t tell you how many “conversations” I’ve had in the shower that, of course, never came to pass. If I find myself brooding over something and thinking of things I’d like to say to someone, I now catch myself, realize what I’m doing and stop those “conversations” in their tracks. Since they’ll never be delivered, why stew about them? Or let them take up space in my head?
4. What Would Your Best Friend Say?
Whenever you’re struggling to switch your perspective about something, ask yourself what your best friend would tell you. Most likely, they will have a positive spin on the situation that you haven’t considered. At the very least, they would likely remind you that you can handle anything that comes your way.
5. Get Back to Nature
Sometimes all it takes to shift your perspective is a nice walk in a quiet park. Spending some time in nature is a great way to disconnect from the minutiae, and remember there is a huge world around you. Your problems often feel small when compared to the vastness of nature.
You don’t even have to go to a park. A walk around the block may be all you need. If you have access to the outdoors, just sit for a few and watch the birds. Remember, the birds are taken care of, and so you will be as well.
6. Spend Time Helping the Less Fortunate
Helping the less fortunate is a winning strategy all around:
• You are helping someone who needs it.
• You are going to give yourself a boost.
• It’s a good reminder that your problems might seem very trivial to other people.
We can all use a reminder like that once in a while.
7. Spend Some Time with Children
Spending time around children is a wonderful way to switch your perspective. It reminds you of a simpler time when your cares melted away in the face of the next adventure. Their child-like innocence and carefree attitude have a way of rubbing off on you.
8. Stop Worrying About “Should”
If you require a seismic level change in perspective, forget about all the “shoulds” in the world. You don’t need to worry about where you “should” be at a certain age. Don’t burden yourself with society’s idea of what you “should” have or “should” be doing. You will feel happier if you just focus on your own timeline.
9. Focus on What You Can Control
If you are dealing with a difficult situation, sit back and figure out what you can and can’t control. Once you do that, shift your perspective to taking action. You know what you can control, so all that is left is for you to take steps to address those issues.
ACTION STEPS
- Figure out what in your life might need a little perspective. Think about events or circumstances in your life that you feel might seem worse than they are. Write one of them down.
- Think about the issue you wrote down in the last step. Ask yourself if this will matter five days, five weeks, and five years from now?
- Talk to a loved one about the issue you wrote down. Do they have a different perspective? Is there anything you can learn from them?
Publisher of Great Living Today, your one-stop source for greater living featuring tips, techniques, and programs in the areas of health & wellness, wealth, time management, business, love, relationships, and happiness. Marty is a life, business, and wellness coach helping his clients to live their best lives.