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At times, life can feel overwhelmingly chaotic. This is a common sensation, though it may erode your daily habits and lifestyle. You should strive to develop your own method of perceiving life as it truly is, regardless of what is causing you difficulty. From major events to daily tasks, life can throw us off balance. The goal is to learn how to perceive things in their true essence.
Steps
Examine Your Actions (and Reactions)
Pause and Reflect. When you feel unable to perceive things as they truly are, or when life becomes overwhelming, take a moment to pause and assess the situation. Spending time to introspect with a few simple questions and being more mindful of the situation will help you see things from a different perspective.
- Ask yourself: “What am I really struggling with?” Identifying specific factors will help you determine how you can evaluate and make changes.
- Consider: “How do I truly feel about this situation?” If your emotions are chaotic, you won’t be able to see things from a clearer perspective.
- Think: “Why am I reacting this way? What is the cause, and is it justified?” Sometimes, we may overreact to situations. Taking a moment to reflect on why you are acting a certain way will help you view your thoughts from a clearer perspective.
Accept the factors you cannot change. Worrying about elements beyond your control is futile and only causes discomfort. This can lead to a distorted view of life. To build a habit of accepting things you cannot change, follow these steps:
- Recognize your role in the situation. Is this situation beyond your control, or is there something you can do to alter it?
- Maintain positivity. If you're in a situation you can't change, at least try to find a positive aspect. This approach will help you cope.
- Move forward. If you find yourself frequently in uncontrollable situations, analyze the steps that led you there and consider alternatives.
List and evaluate your perspectives. This method helps you become honest with yourself. It also provides a tangible list to consider when trying to assess your values and viewpoints.
- Consider perspectives. They guide how you orient yourself and your relationships with others. This helps you develop a viewpoint on life and relationships. Ask yourself:
- “Does my perspective on [x] influence how I treat [y]?”
- For example: “Does my view on Judaism affect how I treat my Christian friends?”
- Does my parents’ unhappy marriage influence how I treat my partner? Is it fair?
View things from a different perspective
Stop comparing yourself and your behavior to others. Comparing yourself to others—whether in work, appearance, talent, intelligence, etc.—is unfair. You live a completely different life, which influences and shapes you uniquely. This will reduce stress from self-imposed expectations and help you see life as it truly is.
- Remember, you are one of a kind; no one else shares your exact history.
- For example, don’t compare your appearance to your friends. They have different experiences.
- If you feel less intelligent than your classmates, consider that you have a different educational background and experiences.
Learn from your own history and that of others. Whatever you're struggling with, a great way to perceive life as it truly is involves reflecting on past events. Consider what has happened before and think about your current issues in that context.
- Your problems and life experiences may still evoke strong emotions. Don’t downplay your feelings even if you think “they’re not that bad.” Reflecting on historical facts is about considering change, not dismissing your thoughts.
- Read history books or take classes on cultures that interest you. Many reputable institutions also offer free history podcasts.
Engage in conversations with others. A fantastic way to build perspective is by talking to others. They can help you consider fresh viewpoints or validate your own opinions and beliefs.
- Always remain polite and respectful of others' perspectives, even if they differ from yours. Views and stances can be deeply personal.
Focus on what you can accomplish. Viewing a situation with despair makes it hard to achieve anything, but you can change this. If you feel incapable of changing something, try identifying one small thing you can do.
- For example, if you feel unable to find a job, try pinpointing the steps needed to start the process. You could identify three jobs you want to apply for or draft an application for a current job opening.
Look toward the future. A negative outlook can make it seem like things will never change, rather than viewing the future with hope and possibility. Strive to replace negative thoughts about the present with positive ones about the future.
- For instance, if you tell yourself, “I’ll never finish this project,” try asking, “What steps can I imagine taking to complete this project and achieve my goal?”
Identify your feelings instead of focusing on others. Fear of how others perceive you can hinder your ability to build a positive perspective. Instead of worrying about others' opinions, focus on how you see yourself.
- For example, if you catch yourself thinking, “No one likes me,” try asking, “What do I love about myself?”
Consider your place in the world
Remember that everything changes. Life is constantly in motion, and, much like the seasons, everything will change. Numerous studies have shown that people who can adapt to and accept life's changes tend to live happier (and sometimes longer) lives.
- A great way to practice this is by looking at old photos. You’ll easily notice the physical changes you’ve undergone, helping you perceive things as they truly are.
- You can also take a current photo of yourself to establish a baseline for what you want to change. A “before” photo can serve as excellent motivation and help you focus on the present.
Visualize the world around you. You are one of over 7 billion people on Earth. This can be a comforting thought if you feel like you’re the only one struggling with a particular issue.
- You are just one person in the universe. You can’t single-handedly solve every problem in the world.
- Another great way to gain an objective perspective is by watching documentaries about the world. Libraries are an excellent place to start. Learning about different cultures or histories can help you see life as it truly is.
Put yourself in others’ shoes. If you’re struggling with your own problems, think about those less fortunate than you.
- One way to do this is to tap into your empathy. Reflect on children who lack food or are orphaned. Use your empathy for good and consider seeking therapy.
Acknowledge that you are just a small part of the universe. With the world’s population, it can sometimes be comforting (though occasionally terrifying) to think about the vastness of the universe we inhabit.
- For example, the sun, which appears small in the sky, is nearly 150 million kilometers away from Earth. Reflecting on this helps us realize how small we are and how trivial our problems may seem.
- To practice this, stargaze. The sky will seem infinite.
- Look at images of the universe. There are many free, stunning images that showcase the beauty and enormity of the cosmos.
Carmela Resuma, MPP
World traveler and executive director
World traveler and executive director
Traveling can help you understand your place in the world. Carmela Resuma, executive director of FLYTE, says: "Philosophically, traveling shows you how small you are. But at the same time, you also realize that we are all significant and capable, and you can create change through the people you interact with and the work you do. That perspective is always magical."
Maintaining Perspective
Set achievable goals. One way to maintain perspective is by setting realistic goals instead of focusing on overly ambitious or distant ones.
- For example, if you need to lose around 45 kg and find it hard to view the process objectively or believe in it, break it into smaller goals. You could aim to start by losing about 2 kg per month.
Forgive yourself. You cannot move forward and see life as it truly is without first forgiving yourself. Acknowledge the challenges you’re facing, then work on forgiving yourself.
- For instance, if you can’t let go of past mistakes, try writing about what you need to forgive yourself for. After acknowledging it, reflect on the emotions tied to your past actions. Take small steps to release those emotions and build a fresher perspective.
Avoid stressful situations. If you’re feeling overwhelmed or losing perspective due to life’s tragedies, try to distance yourself from the situation.
- Avoid spending time with friends who often stress you out.
- Consider changing jobs to maintain a healthy perspective on life.
- Surround yourself with people who make you feel comfortable and encourage positivity.
Acknowledge that you are a unique individual. To maintain a healthy perspective, it's essential to always remember that you are a distinct individual. You, and no one else, are responsible for your actions and reactions.
- Take time to pamper yourself. Consider taking a day off to engage in activities you love. This approach will help you realize that you are capable of achieving things on your own.
- Reflect on what YOU want to accomplish in life, rather than what others expect you to do.
