Perspective – Episode 258

What does it mean to “place our problem in its true perspective”? Can a change in perspective change everything? * Our suggested opening says “as we learn to place our problem in its true perspective, we find it loses its power to dominate our thoughts and our lives”. * What is perspective? * From dictionary.com: * the state of one's ideas, the facts known to one, etc., in having a meaningful interrelationship: You have to live here a few years to see local conditions in perspective. * the faculty of seeing all the relevant data in a meaningful relationship: Your data is admirably detailed but it lacks perspective. * a mental view or prospect: the dismal perspective of terminally ill patients. * a way of regarding situations, facts, etc, and judging their relative importance * the proper or accurate point of view or the ability to see it; objectivity: try to get some perspective on your troubles * Scrabble points: 26 * Perception and attitude: perception is how i see things. Attitude is how I react. (http://sarahtauber.com/interesting-words/perception-vs-attitude-difference/ ) * How do I lose perspective? * (Over) reacting in the moment. * Dramatizing / awfulizing * Minimizing (denial) * Not looking at “the bigger picture” * What happens when I lose perspective? * How can I “put things in perspective” (https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/anxiety-files/201702/putting-things-in-perspective) * Ask yourself what is the cost to you and others of your reaction? * Observe and describe rather than judging. * HALT (Am I hungry angry lonely, or tired?, WAIT (why am i talking), THINK (thoughtful, honest, intelligent, necessary, kind) * What can you still do? (Serenity prayer, first things first) * Pause * Serenity prayer * Ask how you will feel in a week? A month? A year? * Regret, shame, guilt? 8th step list? * How important will this seem in the future? * Consider it as an inconvenience instead of the “end of the world.” * “Rational” comes from “ratio” — consider proportion * Making crisis work for us (https://al-anon.org/blog/affairs-making-crises-work/ ) * Breaking through denial * Slowly rising awareness * Sudden revelation * TED talk “transformative power of classical music”  — Story (from The Art of Possibility) about shoe salesmen in Africa, opportunity, and perspective. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r9LCwI5iErE\ * Program tools * Serenity prayer * Let go and let God * How important is it? * Quotes: https://www.brainyquote.com/topics/perspectives and https://www.brainyquote.com/topics/different_perspective Readings How Al-Anon Works: * Chapter 16: Tradition 1 * Part 2, Chapter 16, “A Nun finds Spiritual Peace” * Part 2, chapter 31, “Letting Go of a Loved One’s Alcohol, Drug, and Money Problems” Courage to Change ...