Are You Standing in the Way of Having a Great Life?
Your "Big Picture" view of life could be holding you back
Lots of people like to talk about the “big picture.”
The term is a reference to having a broad, all-encompassing vision of the multiple and varied aspects that may or may not have an influence on one’s life.
Rather than focusing on individual areas such as work, family, relationships, or health, the idea of having a big picture perspective suggests we should mentally leap beyond the day-to-day mediocrity and disconnect our minds from the daily issues and problems that can overwhelm our thoughts or take us off track.
Allegedly, this exercise provides a less convoluted method of approaching life by eliminating complexity and creating a level of mental and emotional distance from which to evaluate our direction.
Some people use this concept to excuse themselves from obligations and responsibilities.
They believe there’s no need to work through the troubles of daily living, because the big picture somehow bypasses all the petty nuisances laid in their path.
They may even argue that their efforts at doing anything isn’t necessary, because the big picture doesn’t require them to spend time or energy on all the steps and hurdles it takes to achieve that pivotal state of mind.
Others adopt a “big picture” methodology to separate their minds from worry and stress in an effort to absolve themselves of any guilt for why their lives seem so complicated and unfulfilling. They look to the “big picture” as being the ultimate goal - the mentally-releasing prize they can cling to after discarding all the small picture problems from their comfort zone.
The problem with holding such a golden ideal in your mind?
The big picture is changing all the time.
Avoiding the problems and pressures of life in deference to some future perfect outcome can leave you feeling empty, anxious, and devoid of any sense of progress.
Without measurable results - challenges faced and conquered when they appear - the clarity of the big picture can begin to fade and dissipate. Because the illusion of that all-encompassing, empowering goal is built on fantasy and imagination, rather than the reality of everyday living.
Confused? I get it. It’s hard enough to accept there are no guarantees in life. Yet believing your personal “big picture” outcome will remain constant and unwavering is a recipe for massive disappointment.
The truth?
The big picture is the culmination of hundreds of choices made every day, and achieved by accepting personal responsibility for making incremental changes that build the foundation of a full and complete life.
So should we give up on imagining what our personal “big picture” looks like?
Just the opposite.
Keep in mind the big picture is neither an answer nor an excuse. Having a mental vision of our life plan is a powerful motivator that pulls us forward, and out of our mental slumps and periods of doubt.
The secret is to avoid using your dream as a cop-out.
Constantly deferring to an alleged mental mecca in an effort to shirk responsibility for building a meaningful life is nothing more than an excuse for those unwilling to recognize the shifting, evolving nature of our existence.
Throughout our lives, we’re faced with overcoming challenges, dealing with seemingly impossible problems, and occasionally having to slide back a step or two. Ultimately, we learn the big picture is the result of thousands of small pictures that fit together one-by-one, like irregular puzzle pieces joined and connected to create a cohesive design.
Along the way, your perfect, ideal “big picture” will change and adjust until a point in time when you can visualize the individual, variable canvas of your life.
That’s when you’ll discover your entire journey is a series of adventures - one that would never have materialized without having experienced all those unavoidable life lessons along the way.
In health & happiness,
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Jill Reid is the author of Real Life, Discover Your Personal Truth, Life in Small Doses, and Please God, Make Me A Writer. Her books, videos, and newsletter explore life, relationships, self-improvement, health, and personal success strategies for working through the challenges of everyday life.
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