Today I want to break down the idea of a 540 degree perspective and it’s all thanks to my brother!
He recently had an experience going to a red carpet premiere of a TV series based on a book he devoured as a kid. At first I thought, what a cool full circle moment. And then I paused.
No, he had a 540 degree moment.
Because full circle (360 degrees) brings you right back to where you started.
But a 540-degree moment or perspective brings you beyond where you started. It gives you a new way to see.
The circumstances feel similar, but the experience is different.
Because at 540 degrees, you aren’t back at the start. You are standing directly opposite it. You have the maximum distance from where you began, which allows you to stare directly back at it with more clarity.
Hence, we can see it not just as a moment, but as a 540 degree perspective. One that we can use to get curious around events in our lives.
Spiral of Existence
This 540 degree realization brought back a phrase I keep returning to: the spiral of existence.
It first came to me while writing a post last year. I was in a similar position just weeks earlier, but it felt wildly different!
It felt like I was on a spiral, able to view the past experience and relate to it, while also seeing how different it felt.
And how different I felt.
Let’s explore these concepts more and then I’ll walk you through an exercise to practically work with it.
As always, these are all just ideas, not necessarily truths. Take what resonates and let what doesn’t also guide you.
Witnessing the Pattern
Friends, have you ever found yourself in a very familiar situation that isn’t beneficial for your overall well being?
Perhaps over and over and over again….
🤔 Maybe you date the same type of person.
🤔 You continue working jobs that don’t honor your contributions.
🤔 You keep trying to break a habit and can’t seem to move past it.
Now there are many reasons why this might happen, so let’s look at it specifically from the perspective of the observer or the witness.
Experiencing The Observer
If the observer or witness is a new concept, let’s try a little exercise to understand it better.
Take a moment and begin to notice any thoughts that arise.
Now ask yourself, who or what is noticing the thoughts?
It is the observer or witness.
It’s the aspect of you that does not identify with your thoughts and experiences in the same way the ego does.
The observer or witness watches without judgment.
All too often, the ego does the watching and judging.
So if you found yourself noticing your thoughts and immediately judging them, you flew past observer mode.
I promise you it’s there, but it can take some practice to attune to it.
Practicing presence can be very helpful because the observer is very subtle at first. Like the space between the inhale and exhale.
Breath Practice
I say that because breath practices that bring awareness to this space are wonderful tools for developing presence and your awareness and attunement to the observer or witness.
To start, simply watch your breath and notice the space at the top of the inhale, just before you exhale.
Notice any amount of space at the bottom of the exhale, just before you inhale.
You can visualize a hill as you do this.
Inhale up the mountain.
Notice the space at the top of the hill before you exhale back down.
Notice the space at the bottom of the hill before you inhale back up.
I like to go up and down the same hill when I do it, but you can also use a visual like the one below.
Try not to hold your breath, like in box breathing. Just notice it.
The more you watch it, the more time you naturally spend there. This helps to reinforce the idea of allowing and not forcing, which is very important for acclimating to the observer or witness.
How To Activate Observer Mode
We now have an understanding of what the observer or witness is and how to cultivate it. So let’s apply it to this 540 degree perspective to shift away from shame and/or guilt and into compassion, understanding and empowerment.
Earlier we were discussing how many of us seem to repeat patterns and behaviors over and over again. For many, this generates a lot of shame and/or guilt. This often creates a negative feedback loop making it even harder to shift out of the pattern, behavior or belief.
If we shift into the 540 degree perspective, we are choosing to see it differently.
Because what if these repeated experiences are meant to mirror back your growth and what still needs your attention?
Use the observer to ask:
“What is this experience showing me?”
“What have I learned?”
“What still needs to be seen?”
If you’re someone that is hard on yourself, this perspective can be extremely empowering.
Because if you feel you’ve moved past a pattern, belief or behavior, and all of the sudden it shows up, you might get down on yourself. But with this 540 degree perspective, it can be seen as an experience to show you how much you’ve grown.
And…
If you stay in observer mode, a deeper layer might reveal itself. Allowing you to heal at an ever more profound level.
For example, when I was working in eating disorders, I truly felt reclaimed. Which is my term for recovered. I reclaimed the aspects of me that the eating disorder distorted.
What I didn’t realize was that there was a part of me that was not healed from the experience.
It was the part of me that recovered relatively alone. Working with clients and colleagues gave me this sense of community that I didn’t have back then. I felt seen in so many ways I didn’t know needed to be seen.
And I healed at a deeper level.
540 Degree Perspective Practice
Let’s put all of these pieces together into a practical exercise, using the visual of a spiral.
Feel free to download the accompanying handout if it’s helpful for your process.
Step 1:
To keep this exercise simple, imagine a spiral specifically as the pattern, belief or behavior you want to work with.
Allow yourself to see it or draw it in whatever way resonates the most for you.
And allow this to be intuitive. Try not to think about doing it in a way that “makes sense”.
Step 2:
Recall the most recent experience where you felt like you dipped back into an old pattern.
Once you have it, intuitively place it on the spiral.
Step 3:
Now recall another time where you were in that pattern. Maybe it was much more intense and painful. Perhaps it was softer and barely noticeable.
Intuitively, place it on the spiral in relation to the most recent experience.
Step 4:
Based on your own visual or drawing:
What information does this give you?
Does your relationship with the pattern feel different? How so?
What aspects of it feel easier to let go of and what feel harder?
Curious Compassionate Observation
If this visual exercise doesn’t resonate, notice that too.
Because it’s not about the spiral or the exercise. It’s about the shift into curious compassionate observation. And your entry point and approach will be unique to you.
Because the purpose of this piece is to show that when you are repeating something that you’re trying to release or thought you did release, it’s giving you information.
Rather than fall into shame and/or guilt, what information can the observer or witness provide?
And remember, this piece started with a really cool experience my brother had. It’s not only related to challenging moments. It can be a fantastic tool to reflect on your journey across the spectrum of moments from the awe-filled to the challenging.
Thus, living a wonder-filled life.
Until next time friends, stay curious!
You Might Enjoy
- Healing Old Patterns that Show Up Out of the Blue
- How to Turn Mistakes Into Opportunities
- Transmuting Judgment: From Expectation to Compassion
- The Illusion of Safety Through Control: Learning to Surrender to Life
Creative Offering:
If these words serve you, let them fly.
If you teach from them, may they bloom again.
Credit is kind. Integrity is everything.
Blair is a registered dietitian, certified intuitive eating counselor, E-500 RYT and Reiki Master. She integrates spirituality with modern day science to help people heal and reclaim their relationship with their body and food.
Disclaimer:
These are my current musings. This content is intended for informational and inspirational purposes only and does not constitute medical, psychological, or therapeutic advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the support of a qualified healthcare provider or mental health professional regarding any concerns or conditions.