a special feature from Kay Ziplow & Leslie Zinberg, founders

We don’t have to wait for a tragedy or sickness or something that rocks the boat of life to really know to appreciate our being. Often the punches we receive in life can cloud our ability to see the bigger picture, and what is relevant and important. As a result, life can sometimes seem very overwhelming. While this feeling is normal, it may be debilitating to routines and lifestyles.

As the great Dali Lama said, “Cultivating a close, warmhearted feeling for others automatically puts the mind at ease. It helps remove whatever fears or insecurities we may have and gives us the strength to cope with any obstacles we encounter. It is the principal source of success in life. Since we are not solely material creatures, it is a mistake to place all our hopes for happiness on external development alone. The key is to develop inner peace.”

Here are 3 ways to help you redirect your perspective on life…

1. Question your actions (and Reactions) 
Stop and consider. When you feel like that you aren’t able to put things in perspective, or that life seems too much, stop whatever you are doing and reflect on the situation. Taking some time to ask yourself some simple questions and become more mindful of the situation may help you to see things differently.
Ask yourself: “What, exactly, am I struggling with?” Pinpointing the specifics can help identify how you can assess and change.
Consider: “How do I really feel about this situation?” If your emotions are turbulent, you are more than likely unable to put things in a clear perspective.
Ponder: “Why do I react this way? What are the causes, and are they appropriate?” Sometimes, we can overreact to a situation. Stopping to think about the reasons why we might be doing this can help put our thoughts in a clearer perspective.

2. Accept things you cannot change. Worrying about things out of your control can be futile and infuriating. This can definitely lead to a muddled perspective on life. To work toward a habit of accepting things that cannot be changed, do the following:
Recognize your role in the situation. Is the situation out of your control, or can you do something to change it?
Stay positive. If you’re in a situation that you cannot change, at least try and find something positive about it. This will help you cope.
Move on. If you find yourself in a recurring situation in which you have no control, analyze the steps that got you there and consider an alternative route.

3. List and evaluate your perspectives. This will help you become more honest with yourself. It will also provide a tangible list to consider when trying to evaluate your values and perspectives.
Consider perspectives. How do these viewpoints shape you and your relationships with other? This will help you assess your life and your relationships.
Ask yourself: “Does my view on [x] affect the way I treat [y]?”
For example: “Does my view on politics affect the way I treat my friends?”

Our suggestion- try and develop your own methods of evaluating your life, no matter what it is that has shaken you. Take the reins and look for clarity. From big-life events to the everyday, life has a way of throwing us off-kilter. The goal is learning how to put it all in perspective.

*Portions of article sourced from: https://www.wikihow.com/Put-Things-in-Perspective