Thinking Skills Part 8

Put things in perspective

Nothing happens in a vacuum. Everything has a context. It is important to view things in terms of the “big picture.” Putting the experiences, issues and problems of your life into perspective helps you to deal with them more effectively.

There are many perspectives in which we operate. On a grand scale, we’re all a part of history. History is one of those “meta-perspectives”. In terms of history, few things in everyday life are significant. When we look at history, we realize that many things have been happening over and over again for a long time. Lives are lived, wars are fought, civilizations come and go, technology has advanced, and advanced again. Looking at the historical perspective, we get a feeling for what ideas and issues are of lasting importance.

Our place in the physical universe is another perspective, one of almost unimaginable proportions. You are a tiny speck on a tiny planet in a small solar system, which is a tiny part of a galaxy, which is one of millions in the universe. The richest or most powerful person in the world is a tiny speck the same size as you.

Then there is the perspective of your own life. If the car in front of you is a little slow, and causes you to wait through another cycle of the traffic light, what does that really mean? It’s a delay of maybe a minute and a half - one tenth of one percent of your day, a tiny, tiny fraction of your life. Is it really important enough to get all upset about?

There are many other perspectives that can be considered: moral perspective, business perspective, community perspective, family perspective, spiritual perspective, scientific perspective, cultural perspective. Try looking at things from several perspectives. You’ll gain a much more thorough understanding, and sharpen your thinking skills.
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