I was at the local library the other day and saw the roses in front of the building. Breathtaking. At first, I took a close up shot. The yellow pistils were so clear, the petals so perfect. Then I wondered what would happen if I stepped back and took a different view. That shot showed more roses but lost the intensity of the close up perspective. When I stepped back even further, I had the view of the entire bed of roses: vibrant, alive, bursting with color. And a very different point of view.

I found this to be similar to how I live my life. If I get frustrated about something, or angry about a situation, I lose my perspective. I can only feel the intensity of my emotions. My negative thoughts persist and block my progress to reach a solution. When this occurs, my breathing gets shallow, my thought process shuts down and I begin to ruminate about what’s happening. Just as the close up of the single rose, my feelings ramp up and get more and more intense. And I lose perspective.

One remedy? Take a walk. I harness the Duff, put on his leash and out we go. Fresh air and a change of scenery can change my perspective. So can a phone call to a friend. Or some play time with the Duff. As I return to the issue, I have a fresh perspective. I have some mental distance on the situation and my emotions are calmer. Similar to taking that second shot of a few roses, other options begin to surface. I can sort them out and see what is more appropriate.

If I need to distance myself even further, I will turn the problem over to my subconscious mind as I drift off to sleep. That marvelous part of my mind sorts through strategies and other ways of doing, usually arriving at a solution by morning. Not taking this for granted, I thank that part of my awareness for solving what I thought to be a hopeless problem. (I found this part of me likes to be complimented.) A simple change of perspective can make a huge difference and save energy.

On the go and need a quick reset? Here’s what I do. When an issue returns to my mind and I start on the hamster wheel of those “same old thoughts,” I picture myself sitting in a theater. The problem, with all its players, is on stage. I watch and listen, seeing what’s going on from a very different point of view. My emotions are not clouding what I perceive. Quite often, I often realize it’s not all about me; that other people have their own issues playing a part in this drama. A change in perspective is then quick and easy. I have some distance and am able to more clearly figure out what is going on. Living unstuck.   

I hope I have opened the door to enjoying the little things, both here on the Mountain and in your life. Be looking for future articles in the Outdoors Southwest Magazine!