TIME FOR A NEW perspective?

Sometimes you need to take a step backwards to move forwards, discovers Emma Cooling

- Emma Cooling

Why is the most sensible course of action often the most difficult? When we're totally consumed by a problem, frequently the healthiest thing to do is to step away, give ourselves space, and then return to the situation with a fresh perspective. Yet disentangling ourselves from an emotive issue can feel impossible: we feel too far down the hole to climb out, so instead we ruminate.

But, according to experts, moving to a different physical or emotional landscape is key in helping us harness the power of perspective. This step back can be as a simple as finding a change of scenery, or chatting an issue over with friends who are a step removed from the matter. We return to the situation with a calmer outlook and with more rational insight.

Taking a break from an issue or an individual, or muting an online chat that is verging on toxic, all allow us the headspace we need to take stock. In the peace of a willing disconnect, we might choose to listen to the views of those outside the situation whose opinions we value, or we might instead distract ourselves with something entirely different. Either way, we can gain helpful insight, increase our empathy and, consequently, feel less anxiety because we have gained a sense of perspective and the calm that accompanies it.

Learning when to step away

The first step, recognising that it would be healthy to remove ourselves from an issue, is often the hardest. There are likely to be times in all of our lives when we lose perspective, when our view of a situation is based on fear, misunderstanding and the (well-meant but often unhelpful) influence of others. We can find ourselves in echo chambers where we hear only the voices and viewpoints that concur with our own, that serve to fuel our rage further - and that's how we fall victim to polarisation.