Change your perspective in 27 seconds

The Guardian newspaper once ran a very effective television advertisement about differing points of view. Have a look at it here.

At first glance, we think the 'skin head' guy has robbed someone. Then, the camera pans the other way and we see him chasing a well-dressed man with a brief case. Perhaps the businessman is the baddie?

The camera pans out again and we notice that scaffolding above the pair is about to collapse. It turns out that the skin head is pushing the businessman out of harm's way.

Who knew we could be wrong so many times in only 27 seconds?

Start today

We all know that taking a different perspective can be a healthy way to view a problem. Have you ever had something go wrong, only to re-hash it in your mind, while the distressing emotions stayed with you?

One technique to create some distance between yourself and the memory of a difficult situation is to view it in a 'disassociated' way. In other words, if you must mull over that bad conversation that you had with your boss - do it from the perspective of a third person.

When we're truly 'associated' in a memory, we're re-living it as if looking at it through our own eyes. We're hearing it as we heard things on the day. We're feeling our emotions. It seems very 'real'.

Taking a step back - 'disassociating' yourself - can give you a different, less emotional perspective.

When to 'disassociate':

•Thinking about unpleasant or difficult memories

•Preparing to go into a challenging conversation

•Walking into a job interview or presentation when you want to calm your nerves

When to 'associate':

•Thinking about pleasant memories

•Trying to imagine and understand another person's perspective ('get into their shoes')

•Recalling times when you felt confident, at ease, relaxed, strong, loved etc. (And when you're doing this, really ramp up those memories - add in colour and vibrance, movement, smell, taste, sound and emotion. Then turn it all up!)