If you’ve been following the recent entries on the blog, you would have noticed that it’s been all about transitions. And with such transitions come a lot of options, as well as uncertainties. It’s like coming to a junction that opens to several routes, each having the potential to lead to your destination —or at least, to somewhere worthwhile if you’re yet to figure your destination.

These uncertainties bring about a lot of questions that demand answers: Where’s my desired destination? Does this path lead to that destination? What are the odds of getting there? Is there an alternate yet more effective route? What’s the best means of transport to arrive at it, and on time too? If, for whatever reason, things go south, is there a chance for diversion?

From A Bird’s Eye View

When at such junctions in life’s journey, it is tempting to consider all available options independently and in the light of the offer attached to each path. Some options are more sumptuous than others, offering very enticing rewards. Some other routes are just more comfortable than others and offer the least resistance in terms of continuity.

However, to optimally make the right decision, it is necessary to take a flight above the ground and consider things from an elevated perspective. This aerial view enables us to see everything in one frame, and from that plane, we’re able to identify the points on the graph that connect our current position to our destination.

Life is a progressive cumulation of phases. Every phase, together with all the phases that have been before it, works to serve as a foundation for the next one. Like building blocks, every experience mounts upon the last one, and with time, several building blocks add up to create your life structure. For this reason, to build effectively, it is best to look at your life structure as a whole to determine the appropriate block to place next.

In pursuing our goals, there is a tendency to pay more-than-necessary attention to the little details along the way. In the face of challenges, it is easy to lose focus of the end goal and allow ourselves to be overwhelmed by the obstacle we encounter on our path. We end up micromanaging the issue at hand and eventually making it bigger than it actually is. Switching viewpoints and looking at the challenge in the context of the big picture puts things in the correct perspective and saves us a lot of unnecessary stress.

Will This Matter In A Few Years?

A few months ago, I was working super hard on a particular cause, but despite all my effort, everything was falling apart right in my face. At the time, I devoted all my energy —mental and otherwise— to achieving that goal, but it wouldn’t come to be.

It bothered me for a while, as I couldn’t understand why my efforts weren’t paying off. I felt disappointed and a little bit discouraged. But I decided to look at the matter from a different perspective. I considered it from a bird’s eye view and asked myself, “Will it matter in a few years?”

I figured out that that particular disappointment had no significant effect on my journey. At that moment, it seemed like a big deal, but on a long-term scale, it didn’t matter as much. I just needed to maneuver past that “dead end”, take a different route, and reconnect with my path.

This realization brought about a paradigm shift. I was relieved, but even more than that, it helped me to direct my energy to other things. I was able to focus on things that really mattered to my journey. In retrospect, I didn’t even have to wait a few years to realise how insignificant that one mishap was.

Now your turn…

Take a little moment to recall that failure or disappointment that bothered you in the past —maybe a few years ago (the longer the duration, the better). How much does it matter today? How critical did it turn out to be in the long run? I’m guessing not so much.

Similarly, whatever challenge or setback you’re experiencing at the moment might not matter in a few years. Rather than dwelling on it for longer than is necessary, ask yourself, “What will this matter in a few years (or months) from now?”, most probably not much.

So quit crying over spilt milk, map out a new route from where you stand, and march on to your destination.

We’re rooting for you!