The Scenic Route: how it might help you change direction

A helicopter view of a journey

Starting behind The Window of Tolerance (WOT)

At this time, now, you may well be sitting indoors – a familiar environment with familiar experiences. You are able to look out of your window of tolerance.

That should be a safe place, although this is not always so.

As you look outside, you may see a number of routes you could follow – should you step outside the door. If you do step outside, you may accept support from other people; friends, family or professionals.

If it’s friends and family, you might want to make a note of who they are and your place in their lives.

The Starting Block, or a staging post

There are a few leads to explore at:

Window of Tolerance

Curiousity

Getting started

Designing a safe experiment

What helps if I look for professional help?

If you step outside and start a journey, then I suggest doing so using small, safe steps or experiments.

Stepping out of the door – is an important small victory. Even tripping over can be a potentially helpful early experience.

At the beginning of a journey we may lack confidence and experience. Therefore, the first ‘lessons’ from our journey are often small defeats. There are a few leads to follow on this topic:

My letter to you at this early stage

The body can take care of itself

Self-esteem

Why small steps?

Designing an action that works for you

Small victories and small defeats

Both ‘results’ on our journey help us keep on the straight and narrow, as well as navigate around corners. Here a few more leads you can follow:

Exploring what I might do differently

Small Victories and Small Defeats

Designing an early safe experiment

Responding to obstacles you might meet

Being in two minds

Turning an obstacle into another small victory

one rock at a time

Anxiety about the possibility of obstacles may become another obstacle!

Here problems can arise and be difficult to resolve. Even noticing the problems makes tham more visible and more troubling. Just thinking about them can make it worse. Sometimes we seem unable to see what is obvious, and immediately in front of us.

Blind Spots

Johari Window

Crisis

Responding to our Anxiety

Flight or Fight?

Practical Relaxation

More on relaxation

Doing isn’t alway a good idea

Consider your mode of transport

Slowing down can help

Sometimes I am keen to get on but rushing can mean I fall over myself. I can benefit from looking to my left and right. That way, I notice the small victories and small defeats that are passing by, some unnoticed, if I am not watchful.

As it’s not a good idea to miss things, it pays me to take care and to note the smallest thing. Victories and defeats can be very fleeting.

Turning a blind eye to developments might reduce the pain, but it misses an opportunity.

Slowing down

Motivating myself when I am tired

Recording

Reviewing progress to change direction or to improve my ability to just notice things

where you end up might not be what you intended ….. that can be just fine

Getting there, or preparing to move on once again

The destination does not have to be pre-determined. It may emerge from the mists during the journey. It may alter in the last furlong. Whatever that destination, it is likely to offer you a new beginning.

Further leads

The overall picture of the scenic route.

Types of safe experiments to use on the scenic route

Why small?

But not always Action

Destinations and endings

Obstacles to a ‘good’ ending

An alphabetical index of all pages on Your Nudge

THE END

…. hmm or AN END?

….. maybe just ONE END

…. seems like PART of an END?

Oh, I know …… ONE OF SEVERAL ENDS

so what did you intend to accomplish …. what did you actually accomplish?

What does your destination look like?