Balancing Perspective

“The little things? The little moments? They aren't little.” ~ Jon Kabat-Zinn

Mindfulness is our path to the ever fascinating microcosmic realm. Gratitude & big picture awareness helps us see the Universal macrocosm & expand our consciousness.

When we are aware of the present, we have the ability to expand our relationship with exactly what’s happening right now.  Then we can use our senses to connect with the world around us.  When we are fully aware of the beautiful rays of sun on the clouds, how our dinner tastes or the echo of our friend’s laugh, we love the world more. We appreciate the little things.

When we focus our drishti (gaze) inward or on what is right in front of us, what we’re looking at changes. Try it.  Put your finger (any but the middle ;) in front of your eyes.  Stare at one wrinkle on that finger -- the rest of the world blurs away.  Then look past your finger into the distance -- we lose perspective of the finger but we can see what's going on around us.  Like photographers, we're constantly in a state of adjusting our focus & energy.

“When we change the things we look at, the things we look at change.”

Sometimes all that’s needed is a change in perspective.  Gratitude, reverence, compassion – these all change our perspective.

There are times when we can take the micro view too far. When we are so caught up in the details that we don’t see the whole picture.  We’ve all had that moment… where the cosmos collide. A situation frustrates us because we have fear of losing what we have or not getting what we want.  Maybe I'm stuck in traffic, full of anxiety, rushed to get where I need to go & I see that one car that's blocking everyone else.  I go to beep my horn but stop short because I realize it's a cute little old lady, just barely able to see over the wheel.  I think of my grandma & how I'll be an old lady someday (hopefully cute with long white hair) & I don't beep.  My heart slows.  I'm filled with compassion.  ALL because of a CHANGE in perspective.  I become mindful of my urgency, I come into the moment & I'm able to access kindness & connection. At first, I'm only concerned in that moment with my tiny world, my plans & schedules.  Then I connect with my humanity.  I feel at once like I am in the Universal flow once again – just because I step back & attempt a different view.  

So we need to find the BALANCE because when we’re near sighted, we can’t see the forest for the trees.  Conscious living is thinking about how our actions, thoughts, environmental footprint, relations – how they affect the communities we live in, the country, the world, the Universe, all realms & planes of existence – the macrocosm… whew! Everything we are & do affects everything else.  

    When move into big picture perspective, we grasp again what is truly important in life: faith, love, family, friends, connection, integrity & nature. We’re able to move out of the ego place.

As humans, we are in the middle of the micro & macrocosms.  We are neither atoms nor planets, rocks nor Gods.  We are constantly in control of our focus – we can choose where to look & how to view it.  We can do 10 things at once & not be present for any of them because we are full steam ahead towards a goal that will affect the whole world or we can be present for our child & let the house work go.

Our right brain easily sees big picture, left brain sees the details – when we balance & focus on our intuition – we can easily navigate between both views depending on where the positivity lies.

“Since everything is a reflection of our minds, everything can be changed by our minds.”

The amazing paradox is that when we practice mindfulness, we are at peace.  When we are at peace, we positively affect the universal energy & all other beings. Small picture & big picture collide!

The little moments – those are the big ones. The ones we will cherish the most after they pass.  The ones that fill our hearts & shift our perspective forever more.