Getting Away For Perspective And Reflection

Getting away a bit can be a great way to gain perspective and temporarily move away from things you are close to. It can help you make better decisions and clarify your thoughts, desires and feelings. It is not always easy to do, because we tend to be attached to our immediate reality. However, it is really worth giving it a try.

This is a fact we find interesting: humans are experts at creating distance just about every moment of our lives. But it often leads to a hyperactive, distracted mind.

It’s the kind of thing where you get lost in the maze of your worries, wandering thoughts and memories. Such mental processes do not help. They are not useful and they can easily start to exhaust you.

In his book, Focus , Daniel Goleman talks about how we need to train our attention. Strange as it may sound, it’s a great way to do it to get a certain type of distance. The kind where your brain can haul in the anchor of meaningless mental noise and travel to a calm, quiet sea. It’s about going to a place where you can focus on what’s important.

Keep reading to discover the steps that will help you do that.

Getting away from perspective is a key to better decisions

A new concept is emerging in the world of psychology. It is called “self-distance”. This is a fascinating concept related to things like improving stress and anxiety management. Part of that involves making better decisions and giving your creative process space to explore.

There are several studies on the subject. Members of psychology departments at major US universities published this study in 2018. Dr. Michael Duckworth and Dr. Al Kross stated that the simple act of looking at a relaxing, eye-catching landscape can help you get away from your immediate reality and get in contact yourself.

In other words, getting away a bit to get perspective on things does not necessarily mean you have to pack your backpack. You do not even have to walk more than a kilometer to physically separate yourself from everyday life and the surroundings. In most cases, it is enough to learn to distance yourself mentally. This can have lots of unexpected benefits.

The art of seeing the world in another person

If there is one thing we talk about a lot when it comes to psychology, it is the importance of learning to be present. We also focus a lot on how important it is to be able to synchronize your thoughts and needs. In some cases, it takes the form of getting away a bit to get a new perspective. One way to do that is to see yourself and the world in another person.

You may be wondering what the point of that is. Well, it’s great for turning down the volume of your emotional noise. It means being able to talk to yourself in a kind but direct way. It also allows you to objectively, calmly and carefully analyze your inner world. What better way to do that than to go to a quiet place? Here are some tips for your dialogue:

• What bothers you?
• So, what do you think is your best option right now?
• What can you do to resolve this issue?
• Remember: you deserve to be happy, but you have to be brave. Everything will be fine.

Self-distancing is a way to instantly turn off your self-centered inner monologue. From there, you can evaluate your life from a calmer emotional place, away from your ego.

Getting away a bit: Psychological distance as a tool for well-being

As you can see, you do not have to walk several miles to get perspective. In many cases, it does not help if you travel halfway around the world to avoid worries and problems. That’s a simple fact. What can really help you is to learn to create psychological distance.

“Psychological distance” is a concept that is supported by various studies. Dr. Yaacov Thope, a psychology professor at New York University, conducted an interesting study on this. This is what he discovered:

• Sometimes you have to take yourself beyond the here and now. This means taking your mind to a quiet place where you can be more objective when it comes to stressful moments. This is also a way to prevent specific circumstances, behaviors and stimuli from affecting you too much.

• Psychological distance can help you establish a healthier dialogue with yourself. It means saying such things as “Do not let it affect you”, “Think about what is best for you”, and “Choose what is good for your well-being”.

Finally, it is important to understand how much impact getting away can have on your psychological state. Exercising yourself to get away a little mentally can help you deal with everyday stress much better. That said, a real physical distance, such as going for a walk, can also be very therapeutic.