Psychological Distancing: Gaining a New Perspective

Understanding Psychological Distance

Psychological distance refers to our perception of how near or far something is from our direct experience. Things that feel psychologically close tend to have a bigger emotional impact on us. For example, thinking about an argument with a loved one that happened today will likely feel more intense than recalling a disagreement from years ago.

Benefits of Gaining Distance

Putting psychological distance between ourselves and events can be beneficial. It gives us the space we need to see things from a more balanced perspective. With distance often comes clarity, wisdom and growth.

Distance helps moderate our emotions. In heated moments, we tend to overreact. But from a calmer state, we can respond more thoughtfully.
Taking a step back allows us to consider other viewpoints. We become less fixed in our own limited opinions.
Appreciating the bigger picture helps things feel less personal. We realize certain events say more about the other person than about us.

How to Create Psychological Distance

There are simple techniques we can practice to cultivate healthy distance:

Allow time to pass after something upsetting happens before reacting.
Imagine you had advice for a friend in a similar situation.
Write your thoughts and feelings down to process them.
Engage in activities that make you feel grounded like meditation, exercise, being in nature.

The Takeaway

Psychological distance is about moving from a narrow, self-focused perspective to a more balanced, understanding point of view. It allows us to see life’s challenges as opportunities for growth instead of sources of turmoil. With some thoughtful effort, we can all integrate distancing techniques that foster inner peace.

Frequently Asked Questions

What exactly is psychological distance?

Psychological distance refers to our perception of how close or removed something feels from our direct experience. Things that seem closer tend to impact us more strongly emotionally. Distance allows us to gain greater perspective.

What causes us to lack proper distance?

We often lack proper psychological distance when caught up in the heat of the moment, feeling threatened, defensive or emotionally flooded. Our ability to perceive a balanced viewpoint diminishes.

How can distance help improve relationships?

By not taking things so personally, we can enhance our understanding of loved ones. Distance allows us to better see their inner world and what may be influencing their behaviors.

What are signs that more distance would be healthy?

Signs include frequently overreacting emotionally, ruminating endlessly about upsets or judging ourselves or others harshly. These can indicate we would benefit from increasing psychological space.

How can we practice distancing techniques?

Simple ways to cultivate distance include allowing time to pass before reacting, imagining advice we’d give a friend, journaling, and engaging in grounding activities like meditation, exercise and spending time in nature.