The Big Picture

By Dick O'Brien M.A.S.c

In this article I am continuing my series on the lessons of life. One lesson that we all know too well is that life continues to send us many surprises, challenges and struggles.

Researchers in this field have come up with a simple but common sense model for understanding our reaction to the demands of life. They have found that whenever we are faced with a stressful situation, problem or crisis, we rapidly assess the situation in our own mind and than react. They claim that there are two assessments going on in our mind. First we appraise the extent of the problem. We assess how threatening, dangerous or overwhelming this situation is to our lives. Next we appraise our own capacity to deal with it. We assess the extent of our ability to handle the present situation.

In other words we subconsciously take into account how bad the situation is and whether we feel we can deal with it.

Common sense tells you that if you see the situation as catastrophic and you feel you are incapable of handling it, you will break down.

There are two ways of increasing the odds that you will deal with many more of the challenges that life sends you:

1. See the current problem as unpleasant and undesirable but not insurmountable. (Get a better perspective on the problem that allows you to see some solutions.)

The Lesson of the Big Picture

2. Realize that you can and will deal with this. (Trust in your self and bring out your personal confidence.)

The Lesson of Resiliency.

The Lessons of the Big Picture.

The larger our perspective, the more information we take in and the more likely decisions will be effective. We tend to get caught up in our own limited view and than think this is all there really is. This tunnel vision is limiting and dangerous. It magnifies insignificant events and distorts them out of perspective while diverting our attention from what is really important.

Positive Self-Counsel

"I know that some of our best opportunities in life come to us cleverly disguised as problems. Sometimes the opportunities only show up in the Big Picture. I need to know where to focus my efforts and seek solutions.

The Lesson of Resiliency - Life demands resiliency.

Resiliency is your capacity to recover from the difficult situations in life. It is your ability to withstand adversity and personal challenge, to bounce back and renew yourself. It requires a belief in yourself and your capabilities. Being resilient has become less of a desirable trait and more of a survival skill.

Positive Self-Counsel

"I will dedicate my life to becoming more resilient. I will focus on becoming more flexible, adaptive and renewing in the face of surprise. I want to extend my ability to withstand adversity and personal challenge. I have dealt with many difficulties in the past and I can draw strength and courage form my previous personal victories."

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