To the Nth Degree

Note: the image associated with this post is Mount Everest, the tallest mountain on Earth. I could not find a good picture of Rheasilvia Mons, the largest mountain in the solar system.

Keeping things in perspective is something that I have struggled with a lot in the past. I have a bad habit of taking things to the ‘Nth’ degree. Where others see a minor bump in the road, I have often seen as an insurmountable obstacle. I am talking Rheasilvia Mons size.
One way I have learned to combat this is by first taking a few deep breaths to try to settle my mind and heart a little bit. Then, I take a step back and look at things rationally and logically and start to deconstruct the situation.

I start by telling myself that while I may feel a certain way, that the reality is very different. I tell myself that most of life’s events fall in the middle and not at the extremes. I also ask myself questions like, what is the worst thing that can happen? If the worst does happen, what are the consequences of it?

When I look at the worst case scenarios, I remind myself that even if they did come to pass that it is not the end of the world. I remind myself that while I am still alive, anything can be overcome.

I also look at my relationship with the person or people involved in the situation. If it is my wife or family, I know they have no reason or desire to hurt me. Even if we are fighting or angry with one another, I remind myself that the anger or the fight is just temporary. They have too much of a vested interest in me and my well-being to want to do anything to hurt me. I also know that my true friends would not try to harm me. I remind myself of these facts and ‘talk myself down.’

When it comes to those who I have a negative relationship or no relationship with, I remind myself that what they say should not matter to me because it does not take away from me or anything that I have. Why worry about someone that I already have a negative relationship with, what do I have to worry about, them liking me less?

Once I have put things in some perspective, I start to work on solving the problem that does exist.