Widen the aperture.

Often times when we’re dealing with a problem or a set of problems, we can get overly focused. We concentrate so hard on the issue at hand, that we lose sight of everything around us. Like placing blinders on a horse.

Sometimes, this can be helpful. We don’t want distractions keeping us from making progress, so it’s helpful to have those blinders on.

But if we find ourselves banging our head against the wall, unable to make forward progress, it can be super beneficial to zoom out, and get a better perspective on the periphery.

Meditation allows us to widen the aperture, letting in more light and allowing us to see the landscape around us. This provides a sense of spaciousness and freedom.

It’s worth taking the time to sit quietly, ground the attention on the breath, and allow thoughts to pass through our minds without grabbing onto them.

As we do this, we can start to let go of the tight focus and zoom out to see a broad and vast picture.