Have you been up there?

Just high enough to get that perfect view from the window seat when you fly on that aircraft? When the buildings were taller than you, and then they gradually seem smaller, and the within fractions of minutes they look tiny; almost unreal, like those models you’ve seen made by architects? They actually seem to be made of styrofoam and cardboard, trees made of colored sponge stuck on sticks. The whole town looks like a miniature project we often made in our schools when we were young. And then suddenly as we cruise to greater heights, it all becomes a haze. And you don't see it anymore…

the world seems so different from above... doesn't it?

What happened when you were up there?

A lot happened without you realizing it. The cracks on the building became less evident. The dirt and the sewage became invisible. The traffic didn't seem that bad on the streets. The sea didn't seem so dark. For some reason, everything looked beautiful. A bird’s eye view changes perspectives. When you learn to zoom out, you see a LOT beyond and around your usual narrow focus. You almost get a panoramic view of things. It’s a whole new introduction to the Gestalt…

What is Gestalt?

Gestalt’s principle emphasizes that the ‘whole' is different from the ‘sum of it’s parts’. When you break something it should ideally represent parts of the same whole. But it doesn't. Just like those pieces of furniture and lighting and upholstery and flooring and wall colors, which were all definitely lovely when your architect bought them at the store; but once the home was assembled together with these ‘parts’, it did greater justice to the beauty of the entire house. The whole décor suddenly seemed like it was all custom made to perfection for adorning your home. That bird’s eye view helps you change your viewpoint and appreciate things because you ‘look’ at them differently. Sometimes you need to zoom in to see them precisely, at others you need to zoom out to see them in their altered perspective.

How does it help?

Zoom out every time you are worried or stressed or tense. When the trouble is visited from high up in the sky (that aircraft window), it somehow seems miniscule, like its not even real. It’s just a little cardboard or styrofoam problem. It doesn't look worrisome. Learn to break it so that you don't see one big elephant in your room. You probably see just a little squirrel. And that seems pretty harmless to you doesn't it?

But the problem doesn't go away!

That is most certainly true, when you view it like this, it doesn't vanish. It is what it is; you just begin to see it differently. Most problems worry us, not because of their magnitude, but because of the emotions they arouse in us that lead to the enormity we make of them. If we could keep an unruffled mind through troubles, they would always seem like small hitches not big hurdles. Changing perspectives practically changes nothing in the ‘real’ sphere. But again, there is no ‘real’ sphere here. A problem for you may be a moment of festivity for another. It’s all about perspective again. It is wise to use your head to find solutions to troubles and not use your heart to badger yourself down with worry and apprehension. Perspective helps you to keep your calm and use your intellect to make the best of what you have. It rather ‘prevents’ you from losing that level headedness in a bout of emotional turmoil.

See right, feel right, do right

See your problems as the speck in the ocean; a single rough wave doesn't destroy the peace of the profound waters (it shouldn’t!). Don't react negatively to them (anger, worry, depression are all negative and inappropriate emotions). Act positively (use problem solving strategies, seek help, brainstorm and reach favorable outcomes)

You need problems; if there were no problems you’d never find solutions!