How To Gain Perspective from 30,000 Feet
Or 9,144 meters. However you measure it.
[Note: I wrote this yesterday, April 9th, but posting on the 10th. Now firmly on the ground.]
I’m flying today. Everything looks so simple from 30,000 feet.
While on the flight, I finished a book I had long wanted to get to: Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less, by author Greg McKeown (2013).
This tome has just ascended to my list of Top 5 life-changing books. And I believe it’ll remain there for a long time. Maybe my lifetime.
The title itself is revealing. To be sure, my goal is not to do a full book review here. But I will share, briefly, the basic premise of McKeown’s work in my own layperson’s words.
Essentialism is not just a practice, but a lifestyle. It is intentional pursuit. It is the defining of the most important things in your life and making sure you put them first. It is the separating the wheat from the chaff.
Essentialism requires us to get rid of that which complicates, distracts and encumbers. It is clarity leading to freedom leading to peace and purpose. And all that leads to meaningful, lasting contribution.
Confronted by the Truth
The irony I couldn’t get to this book sooner doesn’t escape me — the quintessential nonessentialist. As I read through this book’s pages, I was struck by how much my nature contradicts the principles laid out in Essentialism.
And how much I long for it not to. Within the pages of this accessible and profound book lay ancient truths deftly interwoven with fresh insights. And I want them for my life.
Sitting next to me is my husband, a much more natural Essentialist. As I shared sections with him, he nodded in confirmation. “Yes, that’s how I do it,” he acknowledged.
Now, before you think he must be so proud about that, I assure you — he is a humble soul. The combination of these two characteristics — and so much more — is what attracted me to him over 30 years ago. And he certainly has had impact on me and my modus operandi, no question.
My 3 Takeaways at 30,000 Feet
(1) Getting above the clouds offers fresh perspective. When you fly you realize anew just how small you are relative to this expansive world.
It’s not a mere act of simply getting into a metal capsule. It’s an opportunity to grow in understanding; we can easily fall into our own ways of looking at the world and think our own world is the world.
(2) What happens in other parts of the world matters and affects us all. We need to care more deeply. This trip is to Costa Rica — to visit some friends and receive a medical procedure. I plan to write a couple posts about medical tourism, as that is what we are doing. It’s my first time to experience this, so I’d like to share with others about the journey and what I learn.
Below me right now, everything is brown, green, blue or white. But we are flying over many countries where great troubles are happening right now. Many carry on, their suffering and hardships intermingling with their joys, hopes and dreams. Some are trying to escape these places because of violence taking place right below me.
My heart is pained as I contemplate the mess humanity has gotten itself in. The fact we have become so inoculated to the suffering of so many.
(3) Finding a balance between compassion and action is key. I cannot solve the problems of all humanity. But I can be kind to the woman next to us on the plane. I can get involved in a positive way in the lives of people back home. I can reach out to others in my community who need a listening ear and encouragement.
And, while in Costa Rica, I can use my smatterings of Spanish whenever possible, to communicate respect. After all, I’m in their country now. Crossing over the language divide in their direction is a good first step.
So, how do all these ideas tie in with Essentialism?
One of the stories McKeown shares in his book is about a coach who motivated his team with the acronym, WIN.
This didn’t simply encourage them to train and play to win. It stands for “What’s Important Now.” It’s a call to focus on the present and not get distracted by what was or what may be. We really have only this moment. And today, I choose to live in it.
How about you?
Copyright 2018 © by Caroline DePalatis. All rights reserved.
This is Day 9 of my 333 Writing Challenge (30-days, 300+ words, 3-points), inspired by fellow writer Dene Ward. (772 words today.)
My passion is to make the world a better place. If you share that wish, check out our free ebook and join our growing movement!
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