Why Zooming Out Transforms Your Life
When was the last time you looked at your life and thought, “I’m exactly where I need to be”? Or felt proud of how far you’ve come? Or genuinely excited about the future?
I’d guess it’s been a while.
The issue with today is that we’re impatient and zoomed in. We’re bombarded with instant gratification, “overnight success” stories, and endless dopamine drainers. We become so focused on the immediate future—or the immediate present—that we fail to realize how much we’ve already accomplished and how much we’re capable of achieving.
I caught myself in the same trap. But when I realized it, everything clicked. Being zoomed in is like staring at a single pixel on a screen. All you see is noise, chaos, and imperfections. But when you zoom out, the full picture emerges—and it’s breathtaking.
Once you start zooming out, your whole outlook on life changes. Suddenly, you become alive again. Let me show you how and why.
Zoom Out on the Present (Seeing The Past)
The present has a way of overwhelming us. You might sit in your car or your house and think, “What the hell am I even doing with my life?” You feel nervous, dissatisfied. Like you shouldn’t be here—but somewhere else. More successful? Richer? Healthier? Only you know.
But that point of view is a lie. And the lie comes from one place: you’re zoomed in too close. You’re focused on the immediate past—the last week, the last month, maybe even just yesterday.
The magic happens when you change the perspective, the timescale, the zoom.
Instead of thinking about yesterday, try thinking about two years ago.
- Where were you?
- What were you doing?
- Who were you with?
- What were your dreams?
- What existed only in your mind?
Now come back.
A lot of the things you once wished for are here, right in front of you. You’ve accomplished them. Many of the fears you had about the future turned out to be a waste of time—they never happened. Your life turned out way better than you could’ve planned.
Your present is a gift you don’t enjoy, because you forgot you wished for it in the past.
You’ve seen your past, and you’re proud of how far you’ve come. But the anxiety is still here—now you want the future to hurry up.
Zooming Out on the Future (Long-Term Goals)
The future is a funny thing. Unlike the past, which has already happened, the future is just a concept in our minds. But we want it here, now, and fast.
- You’ve just started working out, and by next week, you MUST be fit as hell.
- You’ve just started a new course, and by next week, you MUST be an expert.
- You’ve just started a business, and by next week, you MUST be a millionaire.
Well, no.
Here’s the thing: We’re bombarded with dopamine drainers from every direction, so it’s natural to crave instant results. But there are two problems with this:
- You look for the boost way too soon.
- The boost should come from the doing itself.
Let’s say you genuinely enjoy the process of your new endeavor. But there’s still that little voice inside your head, screaming, “FASTER, FASTER, FASTER.” The only way to silence it is to zoom out.
Instead of looking at the “future” (1 week ahead is not the future), you should look at the FUTURE—meaning all your goals should be long-term.
There’s a psychological tendency in humans to underestimate the long-term and overestimate the short-term. For example:
- We think we won’t get sick from drinking alcohol just because we feel happy now.
- We think we won’t get fit from the gym just because it will take 2–3 years.
So instead of focusing on tomorrow, focus on 5 years from now.
Suddenly, things look different.
- The topic you’re learning today? You’ll probably be an expert in 5 years.
- The business you’re building today? It will probably be thriving in 5 years.
- The gym? You’ll probably be the fittest person you know.
Aim for a future you can reach with a plane, not a bike.
The Perfect Frame
Life is like a camera. Each moment is a photo, and the perfect frame lies in how you choose to zoom in or out.
And that’s exactly how your life is right now. You can zoom out 100 years into the future or into the past, but the present is your perfect frame. Cherish the path you’ve walked to get here, and know that the path forward is long and beautiful.
Each step you take leads to the next. Learn to enjoy them as much as possible, and appreciate every step you’ve already taken. When you reach the top of the mountain, the only thing you’ll see is all the other peaks. Make sure you’re climbing the right one—and don’t forget to enjoy the view along the way.
Let’s Zoom Out
I’ve created a special prompt that you can input into any AI chat so you can zoom out easier and see the bigger picture:
Copy and paste this into an AI chat (e.g., ChatGPT):
“I want you to help me gain a new perspective on my current circumstances and the future I’m aiming for. Here’s what’s on my mind today: [Insert your current anxiety or challenge].
Guide me through a reflective exercise that helps me see the bigger picture. Start by asking me to think about where I was 2–3 years ago—how different my life was, what challenges I faced, and how far I’ve come since then. Then, prompt me to think about the future—how the small actions I take today will compound over time to create enormous results.
Keep your tone supportive, encouraging, and thought-provoking. Help me see that my present anxiety is just one frame in the movie of my life, and that the future is shaped by what I do today.”