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The Art of the Observer
by Corinne McLaughlin

When you become too caught up in your problems—feeling angry, fearful, or sad--you can practice detachment by becoming the observer. This can restore your balance and help you experience more inner peace. You can shift your perspective and become an observer of your emotional state, rather than being in pain from over-identification with it. Here are some techniques for viewing your problems from different perspectives and developing a supple quality of mind:

	Step back and imagine you’re watching a movie, in which your personality is the main actor in a fascinating melodrama.
	Put your problem in perspective by looking at the bigger picture, the larger context, and realize everything is relative.
	See your problem from a distance, so it appears smaller and not so overwhelming.
	Compare your problem with some greater event or what someone has gone through that may be worse.
	Focus on the details of the problem, rather than over-generalizations—you may discover new insights and a subtle internal change.
	Look for the positive qualities in a person you dislike or in an event that is distasteful -- you soon realize that no person or event is 100% bad.
	Look for the opportunities presented in the action that made you angry – is there something new that you are learning about yourself?
	Be grateful for the opportunity offered by your adversary.