I glanced at this photo recently and thought how beautiful it is. It’s a unique perspective, isn’t it? But while the tree provides a really cool frame for the mountain landscape, it is also extremely limiting. I began wondering about my own limited view. What are the frames I use to give me a false sense of security or that keep me small? There have certainly been many throughout my life, many that I can now see and have discarded. And I know that there are many still, that I can’t yet see.
I also see limited perspectives all around me. It concerns me how very attached people are to their particular frame of reference. These frames keep them small and petty, unable to see Possibility. Sometimes I want to pull people from behind the tree and show them the vast landscape. Many simply don’t want to give up their cool frame of reference. I understand. It feels safe and secure behind that tree. The vastness can sometimes overwhelm. But I want to shout, It’s worth it! Be overwhelmed! Let the vastness, richness, and beauty overtake you! And once you do, you’ll never be able to remain behind your tiny, limiting frame again.
At times, I still have to shout this to myself. I have to remind myself that I, too, get stuck behind the safe frame of the tree. I have to be vigilant in examining my thoughts, beliefs, assumptions, and emotions. Meditation is one way I practice this. Meditation seems to have a way of cutting through the limiting frames, opening me to the vastness. While the vastness is overwhelming from time to time, I welcome it; I find it well worth the courage it takes to come out from behind that tree.
Here’s a great video showing the vastness of our universe: Symphony of Science
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Wonderful metaphor, Carla — it’s always beneficial to see the many possibilities until the scope becomes so broad and the mind so crowded with unrelatedness that we need a frame of reference to give some order to it. I can be the one who stays open to the many possibilities and never gets grounded enough in one to be productive. I can also be the one who severely limits myself to calm the anxiety of overwhelm. We’re either always working with one end of a polarity or conflicted while holding the two extremes. Yours is a beautiful representation of being stuck in the frame of limitation.
Well said, Linda! You make an excellent point. I have certainly spent much of my life being stuck in the limitations. I can see how it is necessary to actually step back behind the tree from time to time. I just don’t want to stay there. And I see so many in our culture today who are stuck there. You are certainly NOT someone who comes to mind! I appreciate your openness and expansiveness.
Frames are such paradoxical things. They are limiting and they are also useful.Sometimes – as often happens in psychotherapy – the trick to helping someone come out from behind the tree is to offer them a new frame to look through. I think once we realize that there is an infinite choice of frames we are more ready to live framelessly.
Yet still, as Linda suggests,there are times when we need a frame in order to steady our focus.
An interesting theme to ponder. Thanks, both of you.
Amen, Carla. How beautifully you phrase ideas—and make your readers think. Hiding behind the tree can be comforting—-but how small life is when you remain there.
Beautiful image. I love how you obviously “click” with the animals, too! (Pun intended.)
If you’re looking for different perspectives then you’re going to visit a lot of limited spaces (both as a photographer and as a human being). And I think it’s important to do this; until you do, you can’t truly “own” your personal outlook on life because you haven’t really chosen it, you’ve just fallen into it by chance.
It’s important to keep looking for the wide-open spaces, yes. But it’s also important to appreciate what can be found in the corners, the tight spots, the precarious perches – like the beautiful image in this post.
Moira, thank you for your beautiful comment. Yes, and amen, to appreciating what can be found in the tight spots, etc. And actually, I needed to hear just that today.
BTW, I just went to your site and your images are stunning!
Thank you all for the wonderful conversation today. My frame of reference has been expanded as a result.
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