“Microscope Thinking Versus Telescope Thinking” By Lisa Cuss
I remember the first time I used a microscope in high school biology class. We had just swabbed our cheeks, placed the swab collection on a clear slide, added a dot of blue solution, then crouched near a microscope with one eye closed and another one squinted searching for bacteria, and a few types of cells. It took much concentration, and the ability to shut out everything going on around me to see the cellular functions on that little slide. It's important to look at the cellular level, but it only makes sense if we compare it to the human, the animal, or the world around us.
I was also a teen when I first looked into a telescope. I looked into this magnifying scope that pointed to the sky and was introduced to stars and planets that I had previously just assumed were there. It was breathtaking to see the vastness, the creativity, and the beauty of the universe! I felt appropriately tall and appropriately small all at the same time.
Interestingly, our thoughts can fall into microscope thinking and telescope thinking.
With microscope thinking, we narrow our focus on one part of ourselves that maybe we don't like, and it's all we can think about, it's all we can "see". Or we focus in on one part of someone else and we might determine ourselves the loser in the comparison game. Our posture can become caved in with skewed vision. We see a small part so clearly, but miss the full picture of reality. When we get stuck in microscope thinking, it literally changes the way we show up physically and relationally.
Telescope thinking allows us to see the big picture, feeds a curious nature, and allows us to dream. Our posture tends to rise, and there's a sense of wonder. A sense of possibility.
Personally, when I spend too much time looking inward, like listening to my inner critic, or replaying the inner loop of ways I mess up, my posture goes down, and I can feel alone. I know others who respond after a while by exploding with anger or blame.
Too much microscope thinking is not healthy for ourselves or for our relationships.
What about you? What do you tend to do after too much microscope thinking? How do you know when you might be stuck there?
Moving between microscope thinking and telescope thinking is important in life.
Sometimes allowing ourselves to pause, slowly stretch, go outside and look up at the sky can inspire a slight change in the thought loop. Or reaching out to a friend, petting a beloved furry pet can also help with the lens through which we view our life or our situation. Dipping the face in ice cold water for several seconds, or adding 30 seconds of cold to the end of a shower also can help snap out of stuck thinking. Laughter and singing at the top of your lungs can loosen the rigidity in your body.
A simple prayer, "God with me" can also help. The reminder that the God who made you with intentional unconditional love is also beside you in the thick of life. You are not alone. Leaning into this prayer can also start a U-turn from microscope thinking into a sense of curiosity and ability to see beyond.
Wherever you are today, physically and in your own thoughts, may you hold in one hand the microscope thoughts, and in the other hand, the curiosity of what else might be worthy of your thoughts and energy. And know, that you have access to the withness of God who created you WITH purpose and FOR purpose.
Shared by
Lisa Cuss
Sign up below for our former foster youth newsletter: