Putting Things into Perspective

Putting Things into Perspective

Even if you’re not a parent, it’s sometimes very difficult to put things into perspective. Life is filled with unexpected twists and turns, many of which are quite frightening. If nothing else, losing my mom last month taught me that.

Putting Things into Perspective

Perspective.

When you’re a parent, these unexpected roadblocks typically seem all the more daunting. After all, it’s your job to protect your children and assist them in making the best decisions, now and in the future.

I know I’ve been struggling over the past few weeks with this. I desperately want to make sure I am still present and available for my kids, but there are days when getting out of bed and not crying all day are still a challenge.

The following tips are suggestions to help you put things in perspective, as quickly and seamlessly as possible.

Honestly, it can be done! All it takes is a little bit of practice.

Technically, putting something into perspective is comparing it to a similar situation.

The end result is a clear, more accurate understanding of the problem. It can also mean coming to the realization that you now understand the importance of something.

Stay Calm

One of the most crucial things when trying to put things into perspective, is to remain calm… or at least as calm as possible. Take three or four deep breaths. Briefly, close your eyes and try to envision yourself relaxing on the beach or one of your favorite destinations.

Doing your best to stay calm allows you to take control of the situation and come to a resolution as soon as possible.

Consider the Feelings of Others

In a perfect world, everyone would be considerate of the feelings of others. When perspective is an issue, try to put yourself in the shoes of all of the other people involved. What are their motives? What do they fear? Why are they behaving this way? These are just a few questions to think about.

Everyone is different. No two people look at a situation exactly the same. Before you say anything that may end up hurting someone’s feelings, step into their shoes. It really makes a difference.

Take a Break

If all else fails, take a break. Put younger kids down for a short nap or if you have older kids who don’t need constant supervision, take a walk around the block. This gives everyone the chance to cool off and think about things in a rational manner.

At this point, you can even talk to yourself a bit (if only in your mind). Doing so might prevent you from overreacting. Overreacting only upsets everyone and elevates the problem.

Remember that you’re the adult. If the situation is causing your children to be upset, seeing you upset will only make things worse. Let’s face it, life is stressful for everyone at times. No one is immune to stress-free parenting.

You don’t always need a plan. Sometimes you just need to breathe, trust, let go, and see what happens. —Mandy Hale

Now that we’ve talked a bit more about the best ways to put things into perspective, hopefully it’s helped you stay on the right track. Of course, at times, you’ll still feel a challenge.

There’s no way around it.

But, the more you make use of these tips, the better off you’ll eventually be. Just take it one day at a time and as the saying goes… “don’t sweat the small stuff!” You’re certainly not alone.

And, in reality, the world would be a boring place if everybody had the same perspective, wouldn’t it?

365 Days of Gratitude