Learning to zoom in and zoom out is critical for better emotional literacy and processing

In counseling work, when patients realize that they can zoom in(fusion) and zoom out(defusion) from a thought/feeling/narrative, they can change that thought/feeling/narrative without changing the actual thought/feeling/narrative.

So “zoom out” or defuse from self critical, it becomes self reflective

Avoidance becomes acceptance

Fixed becomes flexible

Aggressiveness becomes assertiveness

Compromise becomes consensus

“No choice” becomes “There is a choice”

Stuck becomes unstuck

Closed/judging becomes opened/curious

Conflict becomes understanding

Seeing the trees becomes seeing the forrest

And so …..

The point is, learning to “zoom in” and “zoom out” is a critical skill in emotional literacy and processing.