--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: [K]eep in mind the big picture, the…" description: "\"“[K]eep in mind the big picture, the 1,000-foot view. See the impermanence of whatever is at issue, and the many causes and conditions that led to it. ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/294/rick-hanson-10793_big-picture_k-eep-in-mind-the-big-picture-the-1-000_2003328.jpg" --- # \[K\]eep in mind the big picture, the 1,000-foot view. See… ![“[K]eep in mind the big picture, the 1,000-foot view. See the impermanence of whatever is at issue, and the many causes and conditions that led to it. See the collateral damage - the suffering - that results when you cling to your desires and opinions or take things personally. Over the long haul…” quote by Rick Hanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/294/rick-hanson-10793_big-picture_k-eep-in-mind-the-big-picture-the-1-000_2003328.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/294/rick-hanson-10793_big-picture_k-eep-in-mind-the-big-picture-the-1-000_2003328.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/294/rick-hanson-10793_big-picture_k-eep-in-mind-the-big-picture-the-1-000_2003328.jpg) > ““\[K\]eep in mind the big picture, the 1,000-foot view. See the impermanence of whatever is at issue, and the many causes and conditions that led to it. See the collateral damage - the suffering - that results when you cling to your desires and opinions or take things personally. Over the long haul, most of what we argue about with others really doesn't matter that much.”” [Rick Hanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-hanson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Stepping back to view issues from a broader perspective reveals their fleeting nature and the unintended harm caused by personal attachment, reducing the importance of many arguments. **In simple terms:** Seeing the big picture shows most disputes are trivial. Key Takeaway Practice detachment and focus on larger context. Themes impermanence perspective attachment conflict mindfulness Mood calm insightful Type mindfulness philosophical When to use this quote - personal relationships - political debates - workplace disagreements - social media discussions Key Concepts detachment systems thinking emotional regulation Questions to Reflect On - What would change if you viewed your concerns from a higher level? - How does recognizing impermanence affect your emotional responses? A Different Perspective Some may argue that detail matters in certain contexts. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Big picture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/big-picture/) [Collateral damage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/collateral-damage/) [Long haul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long-haul/) [Neuroscience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/neuroscience/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) ## Related quotes > [“The apparent wall between your body and the world is more like a picket fence. 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What is worse, they act perversely. While legitimate users of firearms encounter intense regulation, scrutiny and bureaucratic control, illicit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-d-polsby/gun-control-laws-don-t-work-what-is-worse-they-act-perversely-while/) Daniel D. Polsby ## More by Rick Hanson > [ “\[I\]f you can be with the pleasant without chasing after it, with the unpleasant without resisting it, and with the neutral without ignoring it… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-hanson/i-f-you-can-be-with-the-pleasant-without-chasing-after-it-with-the/) [Rick Hanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-hanson/) > [“inescapable physical or mental discomfort is the “first dart” of existence.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-hanson/inescapable-physical-or-mental-discomfort-is-the-first-dart-of/) [Rick Hanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-hanson/) > [“The autobiographical self (D’Amasio 2000) incorporates the reflective self and some of the emotional self, and it provides the sense of “I” having a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-hanson/the-autobiographical-self-d-amasio-2000-incorporates-the-reflective/) [Rick Hanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-hanson/) > [“I once heard a Native American teaching story in which an elder, a grandmother, was asked what she had done to become so happy,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-hanson/i-once-heard-a-native-american-teaching-story-in-which-an-elder-a/) [Rick Hanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-hanson/) > [“Therefore, you can use your mind to change your brain to benefit your mind—and everyone else”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-hanson/therefore-you-can-use-your-mind-to-change-your-brain-to-benefit-your/) [Rick Hanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-hanson/) > [“Whatever positive facts you find, bring a mindful awareness to them—open up to them and let them affect you. 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But then we add our reactions to them. These reactions are “second darts”—the ones we throw ourselves.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-hanson/first-darts-are-unpleasant-to-be-sure-but-then-we-add-our-reactions/) [Rick Hanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-hanson/) > [ “Letting go of ill will does not mean passivity, silence, or allowing yourself or others to be harmed. \[...\] There is plenty of room… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-hanson/letting-go-of-ill-will-does-not-mean-passivity-silence-or-allowing/) [Rick Hanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-hanson/) > [“Stress reduces serotonin, probably the most important neurotransmitter for maintaining a good mood.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-hanson/stress-reduces-serotonin-probably-the-most-important-neurotransmitter/) [Rick Hanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-hanson/) > [“Experiences are thus incapable of being completely satisfying. They are an unreliable basis for true happiness. 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