Tag Archives: problem solving

the necessity of micro thinking…

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Last night I couldn’t sleep and I realized that I was thinking on such a remarkably, unproductive “macro” level. I then forced myself to slow down and think on a “micro” level.

I couldn’t possibly solve problems, get tasks completed or really do anything at 1:00am lying next to my snoring husband and sleeping cat.  What was required was to rest and restore myself. 

So I created a visualization to think BIG for just a minute and then picture something SMALL that gave me a much better perspective and allowed my brain to settle down.  The first thing that came to mind was the magnolia that is blooming in my backyard now.  It sounds so simple, but it actually was very useful and I quickly fell asleep.

I know that I often get caught in not only thinking too BIG, but thinking too FAST as well.  When I slow down my thoughts I gain much greater insight and think so much clearer.

Just like every other muscle we try to strengthen this too will require some discipline.  In a world that is always telling us to speed up I think our best defense is to slow down and smell the magnolia blossoms.

north america

MACRO

adjective mac·ro \ˈma-(ˌ)krō\

1:  being large, thick, or exceptionally prominent

2 a :  of, involving, or intended for use with relatively large quantities or on a very large scale

b :  of or relating to macroeconomics

adjective mi·cro \ˈmī-(ˌ)krō\

1:  very small; especially :  microscopic
2:  involving minute quantities or variations

cicada perspective

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This morning I found this beautiful cicada.  I thought it was dead and I wanted to photograph it with various backgrounds.  I lifted it up and it moved.  I had to adapt to how I reacted to my discovery.  As I got on the ground to take photographs I thought about how different it looks with slight shifts in my perspective.  1) I was close enough that I could see the intricate detail on the wings. 2) When I stood up and took photographs of it, suddenly it didn’t even seem very interesting to me. 3) When I walked across the yard it basically disappeared to me.  This made me think.

In our lives when we’re so close to something we can lose perspective and get lost in whatever it is.  It looms so large.  Simply can’t be ignored.  However, when we step back a little bit and try to look from slightly different angles, we can start seeing other possibilities.  And when we pull our observation away even further we can get a greater understanding of what is happening all around us.  Here’s an example.

1) Your teenager always leaves dishes in the living room.  When you see them it really makes you angry.  It feels disrespectful and you want to make your feelings known. Loudly.

2) Your kid then steps in the door—Hi Mom, I had a great day, X happened and I’m hungry and I have homework,  (A step back. A different perspective.)  OK, my child has a lot on their plate too.

3) Sitting at dinner your child shares something they are concerned about and you have a discussion. (A step even further back. Hummm, maybe in light of these other things happening in my teenager’s life, fighting about a glass or mug left in the living room has me focused on the wrong things right now.)

NOTE: I am not saying I am always good at this.  However, for so many events in our lives, stepping back keeps us from taking things so personally.  This can help us see events through a different lens and open us up to seeing other options.