At this moment, you might feel overwhelmed with some area of your life. It might even feel like it is the worst life has ever been. It might also feel like when you look forward the hope of “time heals all wounds” and “this too shall pass” feels like galaxies away.

This week, we are going to use the power of zooming out to examine this one point in your life.

Macro: What do you see when you zoom out?

It is extremely powerful to live in the moment. Living too much in the past carries its own set of stressors because it causes you to ruminate on things you cannot change. Similarly, living too far in the future causes you to ruminate on things that are unpredictable and possibly out of your control. So, living in the moment is within your sphere of control. 

When you define your identity, destiny, and life by one moment, it can become problematic, especially if you’re going through a challenging season. This moment does not define your entire life. That flaw or blemish you see when you look in the mirror does not define your entire self-image. 

If you zoom out, you will see there is a bigger picture. This one moment is a data point in your entire life, and there are a lot more moments to live. That one thing you consider a flaw is one aspect of who you are and there is a lot more of you to adore. That one hurdle you stumbled over, is one along a long path of life. 

Zoom out. Place this moment in the bigger picture and look around to see what else you notice when analyzing the entire picture. It feels like everything, but it is just one moment. Learn from it. Notice and experience it fully. However, keep it in context: this is not the end of your story. There is a bigger picture and a lot more story to write and life to live. 

Micro: What is within your control at this moment? 

It is OK to zoom out and understand that this is just one moment in time, and it is OK to consider ways to make this moment in time better. What can you do differently today? What do you have within your control to make today and even tomorrow better? If you’re experiencing a challenge, what can you do to start slowly improving the situation? 

There is always something within your control that you can do differently. Sometimes this could be as simple as managing your response to the situation. It might look like stepping away for a moment to gather yourself. It might even look like asking for help or practicing self-care and positive self-talk. It is not avoidance, it is you facing this moment head-on. You are capable of handling whatever you are experiencing in life right now. 

Mindful: What do you need to reflect on?

• Where do you need to zoom out and look at the bigger picture? 
• Where can you practice shifting your perspective today? 
• What is within your control to do today that can improve tomorrow? 

Pay it forward:

If there is someone in your life who could use the reminder to zoom out or focus on what is within their control, share this post with them as a small dose of encouragement and reminder that everything will be OK.