Distancing

​It’s difficult to process that a few months ago many of us had no idea what social distancing meant.  Now that we are tuned in and experts in putting distance between ourselves, lets try another kind of distancing; self-distancing. Self -distancing is a practice to remove our emotional selves from highly charged situations, paving the way for more thoughtful insight and subsequent decision-making.  It can help ground us, raise our self-awareness and promote insight and closure. Consider trying one or all of the following ways to begin to practice self-distancing:
 
Zoom – Like a lens, when we zoom out, we can gain self-awareness and perspective.  By zooming out from ourself and situations, it allows our more rational thinking brain to emerge and flex its strength.
 
Journal – Write, in the third person, about a decision or something you are ruminating about.  Read it and reflect on what you wrote and how you felt when you were writing it. 
 
Be your own BFF – Pretend a friend is in the same situation you are and then give her or him advice about what to do.  Listen to your own friendly counsel and act upon it.
 
Meditation – Take a moment or many and pause, breathe and then respond with intention.
 
 
With honest self-distancing we can narrow or possibly even close the gap between the things, both positive and negative, we tell ourselves and the truth we need, want and deserve to hear.  It’s the kind of distancing we all can use now and always.