Looking through the magnifying glass

Life is like a big picture made up of tiny moments. Sometimes, we get so caught up in the small details that we miss the bigger picture. Other times, we're so focused on the grand plan that we forget to enjoy the little things.

Learning to switch between these two views is a helpful way to handle life's ups and downs.

Looking closely at "now."

When we pay attention to what's happening right now, we notice things we usually miss. We feel the sun on our skin, taste our coffee better, and see the kindness in a stranger's smile.

This close-up view helps us enjoy small joys we often overlook, solve problems right in front of us, or get closer to people around us.

But if we only look at things up close, we might miss the whole story. In life, the quality of our day fluctuates each day, so we shouldn't focus solely on the granular details. 

Zoom out to see the bigger picture

When we take a step back, it feels like we are standing on top of a hill–overseeing the town below. From up there, the path you've been walking looks tiny.

This big-picture view helps us see patterns in how we act and what happens to us. It helps us understand that often, our problems aren't as big as they seem. But if we always stay far away, we might miss out on the good stuff happening right now.

Finding the Middle Ground

The trick is to learn how to switch between looking close and looking far. It's like learning to use a camera – sometimes you want to focus on one flower, and sometimes you want to capture the whole field.

Remember, life isn't a straight line. It goes up and down, just like the stock market. We need to pay attention to what's happening today and also think about where we're going in the long run.

Like stocks, we have our good days and bad days. Days in which you feel good about the things you did. And bad days where you know you've wasted your time, and you don't feel good about anything that happened on that day.

The difference with stocks? Instead of a stranger on Wall Street, it is you who determines the value of your day today.

What we do in each passing day influences where we will land in the future. You may not feel that you've changed a lot, but if you compare yourself right now to the person you were one year ago, you will see how much you have grown.

Use the magnifying glass wisely

Life is too short to always focus on tiny details but too rich to always look at the big picture. The best part is when we learn to move between these views, enjoying all that life offers.

So, my friend, as you go through your day:

Look closely to enjoy the moment,
Step back to reflect and adjust,
Remember to dance between the two.

I hope you find this insightful. Remember:

It's not going to be easy,
But it's not impossible.

Your friend,
Brian.