A Few Words on Perspective
Think back to a moment that everything hinged on. Put yourself in those shoes of the past again.
You can’t see anything beyond this moment, because not only does it determine everything — it is everything. The entire course of your life depends on it. Nothing else matters except what you do now.
The world around you dissolves until you are left only with the realization that this is it.
You take a deep breath, get ready, and go.
Now bring yourself back. Think. Are you where you thought that moment would lead you?
Was it as monumental as you expected? Or are you surprised to find yourself in a place you could have never foreseen?
Regardless of that moment’s outcome, you’re here.
You know that little moment of suspense when a figure skater is in the air and you don’t know if they’ll stick the landing? We live in that zone.
In our achievement-oriented society, it seems like all we do is frantically worry about the stakes of the “next big thing”, without appreciating the beauty of each moment and its context.
Of course, when we’re creating a life of purpose, it’s not fair to shrug off these moments as inconsequential. We can’t discount their value — but we can’t overvalue them, either.
Perspective is everything.
What you say or do at a given time may feel like the biggest deal at the time, and because of how we prioritize, that may be true. Even so, it’s important to zoom out. Be attached to the work, not its outcome. We don’t do ourselves any favours by fretting about how high the stakes are — or, rather, how high they seem to be.
Take yourself out of the moment. Look at what it’s sandwiched between. Recognize that you were on your way before this moment, this moment is a stepping stone to another one, and you’ll be on your way after this moment
We are always on our way — recognizing this is what it means to be present.
Still, I find it interesting that no matter what happens, we like to tell ourselves everything turned out for the best. In my opinion, when we say “it all worked out in the end”, it’s because we’ve found a way to reconcile our goals with what actually happens in life. It all worked out because you found a narrative that makes it work. But when you’re in the moment, you can’t foresee that kind of wholesome story.
What happens in the span of a few minutes can be life-changing, but often in ways we can’t anticipate. Rather than opening or closing a door, these moments reveal a secret entrance, or a different path altogether. The fun part is, we never know which one it’s going to be. Anything can happen.
So let’s stop micromanaging our lives. Let’s stop putting so much pressure on instances that will come and go. Let’s keep the big picture in mind.
Thank you so much for reading! Feel free to share your thoughts on this article with me, I’d love to hear them. Until next time!
