When Life Gets You Down, Look Up

When you are down in the dumps, getting perspective can be super challenging.  Many of us do at some point in our lives, get a little stuck or hyperfocused on a particular goal or life outcome.  This is after all part of your drive to excel and has helped you achieve the success you have had so far in your life.  But sometimes things don’t go our way and when that happens it can create all kinds of anxiety and even depression.  One way to overcome this is by getting perspective, which can help change your mindset, opening up opportunities to see life and your situation from a different angle, or through a different lens.

And if you are already dealing with anxiety or depression it will make that new perspective that much more challenging to achieve.  Much of the challenge we face when it comes to depression and anxiety is the way in which we see a problem.  Depression, and anxiety cloud the lens through which we see life, skewing your viewpoint or perspective of the world.  Getting a new and fresh perspective can shift your thinking from doom and gloom to endless possibilities.  If you are fighting depression or anxiety or even just experiencing a slight setback, this article will help you take that step back and find the perspective you need to keep moving forward, building the life that you desire.

‘Getting Perspective’ is a Form of Self-Regulation

The idea of perspective-taking is actually known as a form of self-regulation in the world of psychology.  Self-regulation is the way in which we can monitor and control our emotions, thoughts, and behaviors which lead to positive self-regard or self-concept.  Having the ability to self-regulate, managing thoughts and emotions, helps a person adapt to their social world which will create positive relationships and general well-being.

Self-regulation is a primary focus when working with youth and children, teaching the skills to cope with stress through the management of our thoughts, emotions, and behaviors.  And getting perspective is a part of the way in which this is taught in schools and counseling sessions across the world.

So suffice it to say that, by getting perspective on your challenges and life setbacks, you are also engaging in a therapeutic process that promotes self-awareness and flexible thinking which leads to healthy self-esteem and a life of wellness.

5 Must Do’s on Getting Perspective

#1 Go Back to Your ‘Why’ – Your Mission

Take stock and go back to the reasons that you are pursuing your goals.  What is your current goal?  Have you clearly identified what it is that you are working towards?  Sometimes, the obvious escapes us.  We might have an idea of what we want, but when it comes time to be specific about it, you haven’t taken that next step, so this is your chance.

Some people will even go so far as to think about this in the context of their mission statement.  Organizations typically identify a mission and vision which become their guiding principles.  The same can be true for us as well.  If you were to sit down and think about what your mission in life is, or around this goal, it could be a powerful exercise of self-discovery and brings self-awareness to a whole other level.  Give it a try and let me know how it goes!

#2 Change of Scenery

Sometimes we need to be quite literal in thinking about creating a change in perspective, sometimes changing the scenery around you can be enough to give you a breath of fresh air and the momentum to move forward and keep on forging the path that you want.

Going for a simple walk or exploring a new part of your neighborhood, town or region can do you a world of good when it comes to finding new ways to think about things.  And even if you have lived your whole life in the same community, it is always amazing how we can discover new and exciting things, not even a mile from home.

Exploring the world around you gives way to curiosity which stimulates creativity and which promotes positive feelings, not to mention the fact that a little excursion, near or far, will get you outside, moving around, which is therapeutic in and of itself.  If you live close to a larger body of water, a river, lake, or ocean, this is surely a great place to go for a walk, take in the smells and be present in the here and now.  This mindfulness practice will create clarity and help you connect with a number of these other strategies I have mentioned here.

#3 Read and Research

We all get stuck from time to time and that can be a little like having blinders on, unable to see the wide-angle view of possibilities.  When you get stuck in your own way of thinking and need to be infused with new and fresh ideas, the ever simple, very old-fashioned strategy of picking up a book or doing some research can most definitely do the trick.

Fortunately, we live in a time where there are lots of mediums out there for us to absorb and take in information, although this does present other challenges for us as well, more on that here, but looking on the positive side of that coin, we got options, ranging from blogs like this, youtube, podcasts, documentaries, and so on, where you can hear from professionals and thinkers who might be able to shed a little bit of a new and different light on the struggle you are facing currently.

#4 Acknowledge Your Accomplishments

If you are struggling with where you are at in your life and your path towards finding and feeling success, take a step back and think about what you have accomplished thus far in your life.

Take out a piece of paper or just type it out on a note in your phone,  jotting down the things that you have accomplished, and the goals that you have met.   It will probably start from a time when you were in school, maybe it is making a sports team, learning to ride a bike, or even just graduating from high school, college etc.  Maybe it is achieving a promotion at work, maybe it is 5 years of marriage.  Whatever it is, write it down and celebrate it.  If you can delineate the specific accomplishments that you have made around the current life goal, maybe the one where you are feeling stuck, even better.

#5 Know When to Say When

Perseverance, also referred to as grit these days, is one of the defining characteristics of a successful person.  Someone who keeps at it, keeps their eye on the prize, and is able to roll with the ups and downs that are inherent in all life pursuits.  However, there is a time when sometimes we must pivot and let go of something.

With perspective, you will be able to see that you don’t need to let go entirely, as maybe there is a new or different way to approach this pursuit, but in the meantime, you must loosen your grip and think about approaching your life goal from a different angle.  Letting go of a dream or a goal, such as a job in a particular industry, or a relationship, can be one of the hardest decisions you will ever make but a decision that will open life up to new possibilities.

In Short

Don’t forget that we all get discouraged from time to time and need to be reminded of our purpose and that we will hit those stumbling blocks but we will overcome those challenges and with perspective, find the motivation to forge ahead.

If this article was helpful, please leave a comment and share it with your friends and family on social media.  Follow my Instagram (click below) for daily perspective on life.

Upsidedownflan.com is all about turning the upside downs of life, right side up.  Life is hard and we all need a little help every now and again.  If this is a mission that resonates with you, sign up for my email list below, I promise not to bug you too much 😉 but it will ensure that I am able to get you my latest articles and tools of the trade to help you weather the storms of life… those storms that I know will bring us all, to sunnier, greener pastures. Till next time … keep shining ☀️

References:

NCBI: Taking Familiar Other’s Perspective to Regulate Our Own Emotion

NCBI: Self-Understanding And Self-Regulation In Middle Childhood