Important Rule for Life: When in doubt, zoom out.
Being perpetually zoomed in creates two challenges:
1. Struggle feels bigger than it really is.
2. Growth feels smaller than it really is.
The 10,000 foot view provides perspective—on the manageable nature of your struggles and the impressive nature of your growth.
Two effective ways to zoom out:
1. Vertically: Zoom out via "altitude" and see the bigger picture context of the moment.
2. Horizontally: Zoom out via “mental time travel” to the past or the future and observe the present through that new lens. Go back 10 years and think about how your past self would be in awe of where you are today. Go forward 50 years and think about how your future self would give anything to be back doing the things you get to do today.
Both can work wonders.
Always remember: When in doubt, zoom out.