How to Shift Your Perspective and Overcome Overwhelm: A Simple Technique for Managing Stress and Anxiety
Change how you see your problems, and they won’t feel as big anymore.
Sitting on a plane during a short flight today, I found myself gazing out the window at the world below. The sky was crystal clear, and as we ascended, I couldn’t help but notice how quickly everything on the ground seemed to shrink. The trees, the cars, the buildings—they all started looking so tiny, almost insignificant. (I even tried to record taking off on the next flight, but my video didn’t work. Oh well.)
Of course, we all know that things look smaller from up in the air. Yet it had me pondering: How often do we miss the opportunity to do this in our own lives?
How often do we let problems, worries, or anxieties consume us when we could rise above them—mentally and emotionally—and see them from a different angle?
We often get so wrapped up in the details of our overwhelm, thinking the problem is insurmountable, when all it takes is a shift in perspective to make the whole situation feel more manageable.
The Power of Perspective
Think about it for a second: When we fly in an airplane and look down at the world below, the things that once seemed large become almost imperceptible. A busy city looks like a model set, people become mere specks, and cars resemble ants scurrying about. The problems that once felt so enormous in our lives are no different. With the right mental shift, we can shrink the worries and stressors that seem overwhelming and take a step back to see them for what they really are.
Our minds don’t know the difference between what is real and what is imagined. This means we can use our imagination to adjust how we feel about a problem. By mentally “rising above” it, we can change the way we experience it.
Quick Way to Shift Perspective Using a Plane Ride
Here’s a simple exercise you can try the next time you’re feeling overwhelmed by a problem or a worry. The next time life feels like it’s weighing you down or anxiety has become bigger than you want it to be, take a mental flight and change the way you see things. Close your eyes…
Identify the Problem: Take a moment to think of a problem or worry that’s been consuming your energy. It could be a small anxiety or a large, daunting challenge. Now, rate how overwhelming it feels on a scale from 1 to 10, with 10 being nearly impossible to handle.
Visualize the Problem Outside the Window: Close your eyes and picture yourself sitting in an airplane. You look out the window and see your problem or worry outside on the ground. Maybe it’s a giant box, a heap of luggage, or a massive pile of paperwork—whatever it is, see it as a tangible object, something you can observe from a distance.
Watch It Shrink: As the plane takes off, keep your focus on the problem below. Watch as it gets smaller and smaller with each moment, shrinking in size as you rise higher into the sky. You’re not surrounded by the problem anymore; it’s becoming less and less significant the higher you go.
See the Change in Perspective: Now that you’ve gained some distance, ask yourself:
How does your problem look now?
Does it feel smaller, more manageable?
Can you see it from a new angle—maybe even from above, where you can see solutions or alternative paths forward?
Observe: Sometimes, just giving yourself a moment to observe a situation from a new vantage point can open up creative ideas or ease the anxiety you felt when you were “in” the problem.
How This Can Help You
The Problem’s Still There, But Your View Has Changed: The issue might not have disappeared, but it feels smaller because your perspective has shifted. You’re no longer trapped inside it; you’re looking at it from above.
It’s Not Part of You: You realize that the problem is just that—a problem. It’s something outside of you. It doesn’t define you, and it doesn’t have the power to consume you.
You See Solutions: When you can look at something from all sides, you start to see paths that were invisible before. What once seemed like a massive roadblock can now appear as a series of small hurdles that are much easier to overcome.
Your Mind Has Power: The exercise shows you just how much power your mind has. You can shrink a problem in your mind, making it feel far less overwhelming. You can also expand your sense of control and calm.
You Are Bigger Than the Problem: The most important takeaway? You are bigger than any problem you face. You have the ability to stand in your own power and navigate challenges with clarity and confidence.
Next time you’re feeling overwhelmed or consumed by something, remember that just like when you’re flying in a plane, you have the ability to rise above. Take a moment to shift your perspective, and watch how things that once seemed impossible to tackle begin to feel much more manageable.
You have the power to change the way you see the world—and your problems.
Have you ever used a change in perspective to deal with a challenge? I’d love to hear how this exercise worked for you. Drop a comment below or share your story with me—I’m always interested in how others navigate their worries and find new ways to rise above them.
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