Love this: "I see the tree, the big woods, and the land it lies in."
On Earth Day, while meditating with a tree, I envisioned a human life in cross-section, like all those rings that define a year in a tree's life. I'm curious how that visual metaphor might reflect our perceived highs and lows...
Hi Victoria, thanks for introducing this very interesting exercise. As you have mentioned, this is a subjective exercise. I am curious about how to reconcile my own internal yardstick which has moved over the years. For example, I might have experienced a negative event in my teenage years as a -4. As my window of tolerance and perspectives widen, my own perception of a much more tulmultuous event that happened in middle age might have been around -4 in proportion to the other happennings in my life at that time. Would this make the big picture less accurate?
Hi Louisa - Yes, exactly - your perspective shifts, which is why this exercise will be different whenever a new BIG event or crisis happens or YOU grow.
This is a snapshot in the current moment of past events. Today's mindset and lens of past events. Your yardstick has already changed. Whilst respecting that change has happened, I'd say, focus on today, your analysis using this current frame-lens. Walk through the methodology. Don't try and go back in time or overcomplicate things. Stay in the present moment, mindset and lens...after all this is the point you're moving forward from; how the YOU of today sees things.
Have you tried this Timeline Exercise? What did you learn? Did you have an 'aha!' moment?
Love this: "I see the tree, the big woods, and the land it lies in."
On Earth Day, while meditating with a tree, I envisioned a human life in cross-section, like all those rings that define a year in a tree's life. I'm curious how that visual metaphor might reflect our perceived highs and lows...
Let me know if you draw out your own timeline. I'm always intrigued to see each person's map. FYI here is an article on how I realised I had an out of date frame of reference: https://www.carermentor.com/p/what-is-your-frame-of-reference?r=a9y7d&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
Numbers are my nemesis. Quantifying my emotional state feels like torture! But I love how you've used this tool for self-compassion and growth.
It's quite easy - honest, no worries or pressure..minus or plus one event and plot the next relative to it. That's it...
Thanks, Christine, it's helped me a lot since waaaaaay back when. Have a great rest of Friday! I'm sure sea-singing is involved somewhere ;-)
Hi Victoria, thanks for introducing this very interesting exercise. As you have mentioned, this is a subjective exercise. I am curious about how to reconcile my own internal yardstick which has moved over the years. For example, I might have experienced a negative event in my teenage years as a -4. As my window of tolerance and perspectives widen, my own perception of a much more tulmultuous event that happened in middle age might have been around -4 in proportion to the other happennings in my life at that time. Would this make the big picture less accurate?
Hi Louisa - Yes, exactly - your perspective shifts, which is why this exercise will be different whenever a new BIG event or crisis happens or YOU grow.
This is a snapshot in the current moment of past events. Today's mindset and lens of past events. Your yardstick has already changed. Whilst respecting that change has happened, I'd say, focus on today, your analysis using this current frame-lens. Walk through the methodology. Don't try and go back in time or overcomplicate things. Stay in the present moment, mindset and lens...after all this is the point you're moving forward from; how the YOU of today sees things.
I have done this every year so I can offer my 2014 year snapshot vs 2023 here: https://www.carermentor.com/p/what-is-your-frame-of-reference
Ah! That makes a lot of sense. Thanks for clarifying!