When Stress Shrinks Your World: How to Widen Your Perspective

05/12/2025 6 min
When Stress Shrinks Your World: How to Widen Your Perspective

Listen "When Stress Shrinks Your World: How to Widen Your Perspective"

Episode Synopsis

Have you noticed how quickly your world can shrink when you’re stressed? One minute you feel steady and in control… and the next, one email or unexpected request pulls you into tunnel vision. Suddenly, all you can see is the problem in front of you — and everything else fades into the background. In today’s episode of Unrushed: Less Stress, More Meaning, I explore why this happens, what it means for high-achievers in survival mode, and how to gently widen your perspective again when stress narrows your field of view.You'll learn why your brain defaults to hyper-focus, why December intensifies this pattern, and five simple strategies to help you step back and see the fuller picture. This is a grounding, practical episode designed for the moments when you feel overwhelmed, stuck, or unable to “zoom out.” In this episode, I talk about: The brain’s natural tendency to narrow attention under stressWhy year-end pressure makes perspective feel harder to accessA personal moment of tunnel vision — and what shifted itFive “mental wide-angle lenses” to widen your perspectiveThe gentle reminder you may need this weekYou’ll learn how to: Create spaciousness when your thoughts feel crampedInterrupt the stress cycle with small, intentional resetsAsk grounding questions that expand your awarenessReset your sense of time and urgencyReconnect with meaning when the world feels too tightA gentle reminder:Your world hasn’t actually gotten smaller — it just feels that way when stress takes over. Perspective returns when you pause long enough to see the bigger picture. Next week:Don’t miss our final episode of the year — a short, reflective pause to help you enter the festive season with more presence, perspective, and calm. Listen now and give yourself a moment to breathe.💬 Book your 30-minute free, no obligation clarity call here. 🎧 Follow Unrushed: Less Stress, More Meaning so you don't miss the next episode!➡️ Subscribe to Newsletter: Do you want weekly inspiration and tips right in your inbox? Click here to subscribe. ➡️ Connect with Ronél: Thank you for listening! You can find more resources and inspiration here: Website: ronelpretorius.com Instagram: @ronelpretorius.coach Pinterest: @ronelpretoriuswellnesscoach LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ronel-pretorius DISCLAIMER: The conversations shared on this podcast are meant to inform, inspire, and support — not to diagnose, treat, or replace professional medical or mental health care. Always seek the guidance of a qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding your health or well-being.