Take a Step Back: View the Full Picture

Most times, when you stand too close, you tend to see a magnified version of an otherwise little portion of a whole, and thus, making your judgement and reaction based on that which is biased and inclined towards the singular portion you were exposed to.

It is very easy for everybody to see things from their own perspectives, finding it hard to see "why" the other person couldn't "see what they were seeing" or "feel what they were feeling", when in reality, the other person would (mostly likely) be thinking along the same lines too, only that it's now tossed: they can't see why you also can't see from their perspective. In truth, whenever a disagreement or conflict or interests or opinions occur, all involved party believe that their own opinion or stand is the best and most ideal for the situation, and for that reason, they would refuse to "buy" the other party's idea.

Now, when you have issues with your friends and significant others, a lot of many different things happen as a result, at varying stages. I wouldn't be talking about anything deeply psychilofical so that somebody gets lost, no, but rather, I will be discussing it from the very surface of things that happen to every single one of us.

Conflict, we all learnt, is inevitable in the world of man, and such, it becomes compulsory and binding on us to learn how to deal appropriately with and effectively manage it.

Everybody grows defensive of their own points and perspective in the face of such events, and as such, things only tend to get messier with the passage of time. If, peradventure, things manage to resolve themselves and everybody returns to being cordial in relations again, there is a great tendency that each individual will have some amounts of residual unresolved reservations towards the other party; even though we wouldn't come out to admit that to anyone, including our own selves.

Thus, it is rather important that we take a pause, call ourselves back and avoid fueling the heat of the moment. And, that is when we settle and look at the whole picture, instead of the magnified "little portion" that was previously exposed to us. In doing that, we get to see things from many other perspectives, including that of the other party, and this, I say, is indispensable in our day-to-day interactions as humans.

Taking a step back to view things from others' perspective is a major means of preventing the escalation of conflict, which further ensures our peaceful and cordial living in the society, and especially with our significant others.

Next time you figure there is a chance something breaks and flare up between you and the other person, remind yourself to take in a deep breath, take a step back, and try to see things from perspectives other than your own. Don't insist on pushing your stand or forcing your opinions on another, as this wouldn't work well for your relationships and bonds, and instead, try to put yourself in their shoes and see things from their perspective. Thus, it will be easier for you to figure where the misunderstanding is ensuing from and what and who needs to change footing, in a very polite and reasonable manner, so that the fire gets extinguished even before it gathers into flame.

MBS 🍒