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A diamond is one of the most beautiful rocks on earth. It’s used for many types of jewelry. No one can deny the fact that they would love a beautiful diamond in their rings, or earrings, necklace and so forth. Just think about when someone gets engaged, and if they have a nice big rock, don’t they want to show it off?
Now take that same exact diamond, that’s so beautiful to the naked eye, and put it under a microscope. You’ll start to see the flaws, the cracks, the imperfections, etc. Take your favorite meal that you like to eat, and put it under a microscope. You’ll see the germs, the bacteria, parasites, everything! They’re microscopic so we don’t see them. So when we’re looking at something so close, and we’re focused on ONE aspect, we will see the flaws, imperfections, the bad, and we will only see ONE FRACTION of the whole picture. Thus the saying, “Step Away From the Microscope”. Let’s look at a few examples and illustrate it in a few different scenarios:
What We Choose to Focus On. In any relationship – husband & wife, relatives, friends, workmates, schoolmates, etc. If we were to look very closely at anyone we WILL find flaws. Now if we were to FOCUS on JUST that small aspect (their flaws) that’s all we would see! We would see their rudeness, their bad attitude, their annoying tendencies, the way they speak to people, too loud, too quiet, too flamboyant, too lavish, too simple, and the list can go on. We can even say the same about the GOOD in people or things.
Here’s how: Someone may be toxic for you, but all you focus on is that one little good that they have in them. They take advantage of you, put you down, hurt you in more ways than one, abuse you mentally, physically, emotionally, and so on. However, you’re only choosing to focus on that one little aspect of a GOOD trait that they have and make excuses for them because you’re not seeing how TOXIC the relationship is. You’re not seeing the WHOLE picture! We can also say the same for situations such as a job, habits and life in general. So when it comes to really anything, we may tend to only see the good or the bad, the negatives or the positives, and we focus on ONE TINY ASPECT of a BIG PICTURE. There’s a saying: “We cannot see the forest if we focus on ONE tree.” If you go up to the mountains, you see the WHOLE forest, you see the beauty, the birds, if there are flowers, you would see that! On the flip side, you would also see the danger, the predators, the hunters, scavengers, and so on. So to see the big picture, to see everything in its ENTIRETY, we MUST step away from the microscope.
One Track Mind. Have you ever heard of someone with a one track mind? No one can reason with them, tell them ANYTHING because they only see what they wanna see? Yea I used to be that person and am working hard constantly to defeat that particular trait. No one could reason with me and tell me anything because Amber wanted to do what AMBER wanted to do regardless of what came from it even if it was bad! Every time you tried to reason with me, I had a rebuttal! I had an answer for everything! I just couldn’t and sometimes didn’t want to see things from different angles, and see things from the bigger picture! That’s so dangerous because in life, as we grow older, and as we experience things, we have to learn to look at things from ALL angles and not just see what WE wanna see through that one track mind! Every situation we come across in life, it’s much bigger than what WE’RE seeing it as! I cannot tell you how many times I have had to learn to just shut my mouth and open my mind! However, in order to do that, I had to…….. step away from the microscope!
The Judgment Zone. Now we’ve all come across a little judgmental when speaking about someone or something, or even ALOT of judgmental. I know I have. So let’s think about a house that is run-down—the gutters are falling off, windows are broken, and ceiling panels are water damaged. Most people might look at that house and say “ewww that house should be torn down. It looks awful!” But someone who has a completely different view might come along. He may be able to look BEYOND the surface problems and see that the structure is sound and that the house can be restored. He buys the house and with some work fixes the surface defects and improves its appearance. Thereafter, other people passing by comment on what a beautiful home it is. Can we be like this person who worked to fix up or restore the house and stepped away from that microscope and looked at the whole picture?
So in life, whether we are making decisions, whether we are dealing with others and personality differences on a day to day basis, careers, and even things within our own individual self, we have to learn to look at things in more than one way and with more than one viewpoint. We will never learn, and we will develop a narrow mind if we insist on just seeing things through a tiny little spec, and not stepping back and looking at the WHOLE picture. George Eliot once said, “It is a narrow mind which cannot look at a subject from various points of view.” So in order to grow, in order to prosper, and be successful, we cannot lose sight of the big picture no matter what the situation is. When you look at the big picture of things, everything will start to connect! So why don’t we just STEP AWAY FROM THE MICROSCOPE.
Sasha says
Wow! Loved this article Amber. Such a great analogy! 👍
amberl.hurley says
Thank you so much Sasha!
Amber Myers says
This is a great reminder. I try to never judge! I work hard to be respectful of other opinions because it irks me when people think they are right and there couldn’t possibly be another choice.
amberl.hurley says
That’s so true. Thank you for reading!
aisasami says
“We cannot see the forest if we focus on ONE tree.”
THIS! This is the quote of the year! We shouldn’t focus on someone’s flaws when we should focus on their good points! We cannot just judge people on their flaws when we all have them.
amberl.hurley says
Yup so true thank you for reading!!
Matthew Lovett says
Really insightful article full of great advice!
amberl.hurley says
Thank you for reading!
Kathy Kenny Ngo says
I love the analogy. It’s so accurate and fitting. I wish everyoe would step away from the microscope. Life would be better for most.
amberl.hurley says
Absolutely! Thank you for reading!
Amber says
I really love this and all the examples because it really is relevant to everyones life in one way or another. Great reminder to “step away from the microscope”… love that little saying.
amberl.hurley says
Thank you so much. Thank you for reading!
Krysten Quiles says
I’m learning in my own workplace to remember that I am not the only one and I need to keep my mind open to others. Thanks so much for sharing this with all of us!
amberl.hurley says
Thank you for reading!
Joanna says
I agree with you, a lot of things happen because we focus on only single thing, and then we either don’t see solutions or we are stuck in a routine or life that we don’t enjoy. It’s important to take a look at the big picture and open our minds.
amberl.hurley says
Yes very true. Thank you for reading!
Nicole Claesen says
Love this so much!! It’s so easy to hyper focus on that thing your spouse does that drives you crazy. When we “step away from the microscope” it is indeed way easier to see him/her as a whole person and to see all the amazing, wonderful things that made you fall in love with them.
amberl.hurley says
I’ve definitely learned that big time last year! Thank you for reading!
Tara Pittman says
This is good. I think people do judge to quickly and need to step away
amberl.hurley says
Yes true. Thank you for reading!
Jessica Collazo says
This is such a great way to view life and relationships.
amberl.hurley says
Yes it is. Thank you for reading!
Chelsea Sauve - Wandure says
I love the framing of this – of paying attention to what we choose to focus on. I will remind myself to “step away from the microscope” from now on!
amberl.hurley says
Thank you for reading!
Kay says
A great reminder to not be so critical!! Everyone has a right to have flaws!
amberl.hurley says
Yup that’s right! Thank you for reading!
Brandi says
Such truth! I try to think of it as sometimes I don’t make the best first impressions (I’m so shy that it can come off rude sometimes), and I hope people will give me a second chance, instead of focusing on a bad impression. 🙂
amberl.hurley says
Aww thank you for sharing that! I’m sure underneath the shyness is a nice person. Thank you for reading!
Nate says
You are so right about looking at things from one view point. It should be viewed in all angles because, not one way to look at things is the only way.
JEN says
I’m so guilty of only seeing the good in people. I definitely agree that it skews your judgement as you’re not seeing the whole picture.
amberl.hurley says
Yes, thank you for reading!
berlin says
I am always fascinated with diamonds. they truly show their real beauty through many tests. anyway, i like the analogy you presented here. indeed, we should not be too judgemental and also not to be easily judging against others.
amberl.hurley says
I agree. Thank you for reading!
Tanya says
Great post and message about perspective and focus — so on point!
amberl.hurley says
Thank you so much!
WanderlustBeautyDreams says
LOVE this message! The judgemental part really is true. I think when someone is judging someone else it just reflects and speaks more of them than it does on the other person.
amberl.hurley says
Yes very true. Thank you for reading!
Helen Little says
It’s so important to see the bigger picture. Focusing on small imperfections is very depressing! Love this post!
amberl.hurley says
Thank you for reading!
Maria says
Great post. I think it’s sometimes really hard to escape putting your partner under a microscope. We see them every day and it’s hard not to notice negatives after a while. But it’s definitely necessary to step away from time to time and to take in the bigger picture.
amberl.hurley says
Yes I’ve definitely had to learn this!
Pearl | ownthepool says
I am really working on my judgment of things. I am trying to see the world differently in order to grow. 🙂
amberl.hurley says
Yes that’s something I’m working on too. Thank you for reading!
Gervin Khan says
This is such a great article to read, you are giving us a very insightful topic that will remind us not to focus only on the physical appearance or on what we can see but to teach ourselves to see the bigger picture and to teach ourselves to think out of the box.
amberl.hurley says
Thank you for reading!!
Sophia says
This was so beautifully written. I love these words and I want to live like this too.
amberl.hurley says
Thank you, and thank you for reading!
Laura says
I agree sometimes we lose the big picture and put all our attention to one little thing. Thank you for the reminder x
amberl.hurley says
Thank you for reading!
Alvern Success Unscrambled says
Many years ago I experienced an epiphany about my past, present and future relationships. With God’s help, I now spend a lot of time seeing the potential in others as opposed to their flaws or current challenges.
amberl.hurley says
That’s a wonderful quality. Thank you for reading!
Katie Frazier says
This is beautiful. My first serious relationship was toxic due to me looking at that one thing and ignoring his toxic traits. This blog post was a great reminder!
amberl.hurley says
Thank you for reading!
Jasmine M says
I love this! I know I see a lot of people in relationships or even people just upset about everyday life because they are focusing on minor things they are unhappy with instead of the big picture. IT’s always good to step away from the microscope and to truly take time to value things.
amberl.hurley says
Yes indeed. I have learned that heavily! Thank you for reading!
Lisa @ Midwest Glam says
That was definitely an eye opening read. Step away from the microscope. I love that. I tend to focus on the one aspect and I know it can be unhealthy. Thanks for this.
amberl.hurley says
Thank you for reading!!
ohmummymia says
Amazing analogy. I hope more people will be able to see the whole picture especially when we talking about toxic relationships. I really like that example here.
amberl.hurley says
Yes, thank you for reading!
King www.techsnow.xyz says
This is amazing. Such a wonderful article . I love all those life lessons
amberl.hurley says
Thank you!
tweenselmom says
I guess no one will ever like to be put in a microscope, most specially a spouse. Even if we are intimate or best friends, all of us have our own flaws and we shouldn’t focus on them.
amberl.hurley says
That’s so true thank you for reading!
Christa says
I agree that yuh find what you’re looking for! Taking a step back to look at the big picture is so important.
amberl.hurley says
Yes it is. Thank you for reading!
Jessica says
This is so true in many aspects of life. It’s a good reminder to step back and not break things down so much. Appreciate what it is without microscoping it to pieces.
amberl.hurley says
Thank you for reading!
Christine says
Omg this is so timely for me. I have definitely been getting into a habit of nitpicking my fiance lately. I need to step away from the microscope!!
Alexis says
What great encouragement! I fully expected an article on microscopes but what encouraging words about relationships and self care.
Sundeep says
Very interesting article. Thanks for this informative post. You mentioned some great examples.
Nyxie says
Great post and I can see exactly where you’re coming from. The size of the rock nor it’s ‘purity’ matters in a relationship, just like a piece of paper doesn’t matter. My partner and I have made the decision not to get married because it doesn’t matter to us. We bought a house and plan on having kids which is just as big a commitment as any diamond.
Sarah M says
This is an insightful post. It’s good to see the whole picture rather just seeing through the tiny little spec. It’s a clever way to make the right decisions in life.
Rikki Ridgeway says
Keeping it positive and respectful, no matter what the situation is so important to me. The only one to judge others should be God. Not us! Though it’s not always easy – it’s a constant work in progress to be kind positive and collected, no matter what. We don’t always see what’s going on behind closed doors, either.
amberl.hurley says
Yes exactly! Thank you for reading!
Jackline A says
Great article. Great concept showing the microscope analogy. Focus on the right things.
Marie Phillips says
I like how you point out that we should look at the big picture for good or for bad. Sometimes we spend so much time giving people the benefit of the doubt and overlooking the flaws that we don’t realize how toxic they have become. We should always try to see the good in people, but not when we are getting buried under the negative.
Cindy says
Great article! I love your analogy with the microscope.
fashionandstylepolice says
Great message here. I like to look at things from various perspectives. That way I have the full picture.
Catherine says
Love your analogy about the diamond and how we need to look at things in more than one way. So thoughtful!
Kiwi says
This is a wonderful analogy. Really deep and makes you think beyond the surface.
Marysa says
It is true that we tend to scrutinize things. I think maybe I am guilty of spending too much time on some issues. I think it helps to put things in perspective especially at a time like this.