The Heron's Perspective

Your 12 week newsletter to help you handle life's little and big challenges with grace and optimism.

The Heron's Perspective on Focus on Others

Focus on Others

Have you ever tried to see a fish in the water without polarized sunglasses? Well, let me tell you, it's near impossible. But as soon as you rest your Polarized sunnies on your nose, the fish are crystal clear. We can only see the fish when we have a different lens.

One of the heron's strengths is its extraordinary vision, which is about three times as detailed as ours. Not only does it see in detail, but it can change its perspective almost instantaneously between telescope and close-up mode. Imagine having a heron's perspective!

If you shift your focus from yourself to others, extend your concern to others, and cultivate the thought of caring for the well being of others, then this will have the immediate effect of opening up your life.

-Dalai Lama

Pillar on Focusing on Others

Pillars that offer insight and wisdom to ponder.

Focus on Others

There are two notable results when we change our focus to others; it offers a different perspective and it lets light in when you need it. If we can see our situation though a wider lens our problems appear smaller and more manageable. You may have noticed that when adversity is present we have a tendency to zoom in on our own (likely dark) situation. It can become like a magnifying glass for what is going wrong. Focusing on the the negative can take its toll physically and emotionally making us feel even more like a victim. When we zoom out we expand our focus which lets the light back in. It is all about getting out of our zoomed in lens and expanding our field of vision.

Action Steps

Bite sized actionable things to help you change your focus.

Find a spark

When two people are connected it creates a spark. The spark brings warmth and light and is an opening into another person's perspective. The spark takes the focus off of you and puts it on someone else. Today set the intention to light a spark. Consider someone pumping gas near you, an old friend, or a loved one. Notice how you feel when you connect and know that they may be feeling the same way.

Joy Drop someone

Spend some of your energy on doing an intentional act of kindness. By thinking about who and what to Joy Drop you give yourself a boost of positive emotion. As a bonus you change your focus to someone else.

Submerge yourself

Whether its a book, a movie or music, submerging ourselves into another experience calms our racing mind and feels delightful. When we read about an experience worse than our own it offers perspective on our own situation. So go ahead and watch Louis Zamperini's story in Unbroken.

Stargaze

Fix yourself a cup of tea in your favorite mug, get outside and look up. Take a look at the stars that are billions of miles away and accept your smallness.

Inquiry

Be curious as you read the questions below. Notice how they make you feel. What is exciting? What scares you? What are you willing to commit to?

Spark

Who is someone you can light a spark with?

Where can you light a spark with someone new?

Try the doctors office, gas station or grocery store.

Joydrop

Next time you buy a coffee, muffin or flowers pick up a second and hand it to the next person you see. How does it feel?

Ready for a challenge? Do something unexpected for someone you work with, in your neighborhood or at the doctors office. Could you find a way to joy drop your coxswain?

Submerge

What is your favorite way to lose track of time?

My favorites are getting lost in live music or reading a book like Unbroken, The Choice or Endurance.

Stargaze

Look up at night , or out at the ocean, or at a city scape and take in our comparative size. How does it make you feel?

That's it for this weeks newsletter. I trust you have new insight and are walking away with actionable steps to move forward with grace and optimism. You can expect the next Herons Perspective to swoop in a week from today. If you are inspired please send this link to anyone who is looking for another path forward. I would love to hear how this resonates with you and what you would like more of. You can email me at here.

Be well and inspire others to do the same ,

Sara Corckran

www.corckrancoaching.com

Author of Grit and Grace