Are you experiencing anxious or unhelpful thoughts?

Did you know, when we consider the situation we are in from a distance (like pretending a friend is in the same situation), it changes how we relate to ourselves and our feelings?

When we use words like "I" and "me" it immerses us in our experiences. However, using non-first-person pronouns, such as "you, him, her, they", or your name, allows us to consider our situation with the same distance we would think about others, giving us more psychological distance and perspective. This can be helpful when we engage in more biased and unhelpful thinking patterns. Have you noticed that it’s often easier to recommend a solution or strategy to a friend than it is to know how to navigate the same situation yourself?

Use distanced self-talk the next time you experience an uncomfortable feeling like being judged, rejected, hurt, or embarrassed. 

Ask yourself: What advice would I give to a friend in the same situation? This allows you to gain a more distanced perspective and objectivity.

“Life is about perspective and how you look at something... ultimately, you have to zoom out.” ― Whitney Wolfe Herd.