I originally published this post on August 2014. I made some small changes and I am republishing it.
Life is a true potpourri of experiences.
There are moments of breathtaking beauty.
There are moments of profound sadness.
We see unimaginable wickedness.
We see acts of selfless courage.
The human experience presents a vast array of differences across people and across a single person’s lifetime. You will undoubtedly experience times of great happiness, serenity, peace, and love. You will undoubtedly suffer trauma, heartbreak, sadness, guilt, shame, and grief.
This is what it is to be human. Ain’t it great?
In the midst of all this, I find it helpful to continually examine the context in which I am living. This is what I call the three lenses. Many people will avoid thinking about all three and may even find themselves trapped in one.
The Little Picture
The little picture is joy. It’s the present moment. Getting lost in that moment can be profound because it is the fundamentals unit of experience.
The Big Picture
The big picture is in your head. It does not exist. It is YOUR future. It is the greater world you inhabit but every very little control over. It is where your fears of survival live. It is where anxiety breeds and spreads. Many people live their whole lives here.
The Grande Scheme Of Things
The grande scheme of things is where your true understanding of your place in the universe lives. The consideration of your consciousness in the vast and limitless vacuum of space gives you a context with which to understand the concerns you have in the big picture.
I find this model helpful when I get overwhelmed, anxious, or depressed. Maybe it will help you.