Perspective

An effective tool for changing your thinking and the emotions linked to the anxious thoughts we have is to refocus your thoughts on where you are going!

Place your hand in front of your eyes.  All that you can see is your palm and that appears to be the only thing in front of you. If you lean back, or lower your hand, then you can see past your hand and realize that there is more in front of you than your palm. You can see the room or out of the window.

In art, there is an effective technique used for creating perspective, which is called finding your horizon. When drawing or painting a landscape, the artist determines the position of the horizon — where the sky meets the earth in the landscape. 

This intersection establishes the perspective of the picture. We can utilize this same principle in training our brain to let go of bad thinking: find your horizon. 

Rather than focusing on the immediate, look at your future, focus on your outcome, find your horizon. 

Jesus gives us an insight into His own personal coping mechanism. He demonstrated that he also was able to endure his present circumstance by finding his horizon.

“…And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame…” Hebrews 12:1-2 NLT

Jesus raised His eyes from the immediate surrendering of His will in Gethsemane, the betrayal of Judas, the mocking trials in Pilate’s and Herod’s courts, the rejection of the population (“Give us Barabbas!”), the beating, the carrying of his cross, and being crucified between two thieves. THE JOY LURKING ON THE HORIZON was that you and I could be saved.

Finding your horizon causes everything else to fall into perspective.

— Tracy Lewis, Registered Mental Health Counselor Intern