Time frame
Scott Miker
Everyone sees the world through their own personal perspective. How we were raised, where we live, and who are family members are all combine to give us our own uniqueness.
But regardless of who we are, we all experience time. Time frames events and can color how we view situations. Something that we face today feels different than the same challenge viewed 10 years from now. Once the sting of the moment wears off, our memory becomes a glossier version, with less detail and exaggerated aspects.
This happens all the time. When we deal with teenage heartbreak, we are told that there are many others we will date in the future. But in the moment, that doesn’t bring solace. But for those on the outside, they see it clearly.
Like everyone, I tend to get caught up in the moments in life. The current moment gets built up and the emotions of the current moment are vivid. The past always has a bit of a blurry, nostalgic feel to it.
I love reading books by Jocko Willink. Willink was a Navy SEAL and has written about the various lessons he learned leading this elite group.
He talks a lot about learning how to detach from the moment to see the bigger picture. The value of this on the battlefield is great, but it applies to everyone. We all can learn how to detach from the situation and see it from a higher point of view to make better decisions and avoid allowing strong emotions to skew our decision-making.
One way to detach, is to ask yourself what this moment will mean in the future. It could be in 5 years or 500 years. We can improve our ability to make good decisions by placing ourselves in the future and looking back at today.
Will we regret the decisions we are making? Will we be glad that we choose this option? Will future humans judge the situation with a completely different perspective to show how naïve we were?
We place enormous meaning on the current situation, yet in the future this moment may be insignificant. What matters most is the culmination of our decisions and the direction we take our lives. We should use these smaller decisions to help build towards a brighter future and a better path.
Whenever something life-changing happens, it always causes me to stop and take this higher perspective. I start to see that stuff that got me so worked up will never hold the same impact and meaning as I give it in the moment.
If you find it difficult to improve and make progress towards the life you desire, try reframing it using a different reference of time. It might just provide enough insight to help you adjust decision-making in the moment to create new momentum.
This new momentum can take you towards the goals you have in life and help you avoid making short-sighted decisions.