When your world feels small

In any season, it is possible to choose the bigger life

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:03):
Welcome to Before Breakfast, a production of iHeartRadio. Good Morning,
This is Laura. Welcome to the Before Breakfast podcast. Today's
tip is that if you find yourself feeling like your
world has gotten smaller, there are practical ways to broaden

(00:24):
your horizons. No matter the season, it is possible to
choose a bigger life. During and after the COVID pandemic,
many people lamented that their world seemed to have shrunk.
The universe of people they saw plummeted, they spent more

(00:45):
time at home, they lost variety in their activities, but
of course it doesn't take a pandemic for people to
feel that way. Sometimes a lot of people tell me
that their worlds shrink During the early years of parenting.
It can be hard to go out with babies or toddlers,
so people find themselves staying home. I hear from remote

(01:08):
workers who love the flexibility and independence of working from home,
but struggle to see people other than on zoom, or
even to leave the house some days, and all of
us in winter can find our worlds feeling smaller. Bundling
up and driving in bad weather is unpleasant. It is

(01:28):
just easier not to, but after a while of living
in a constricted world, you may start too long for
something else. So how can you broaden your world? How
can you make life feel a little bigger. The good
news is that you probably don't have to change much.

(01:49):
There are practical things you can do to broaden your
horizons within daily life. One simple idea is to consider
finding a third space somewhere besides home and work where
you can hang out. Your third space could be a
coffee shop, a library, a park, or some other spot
where you are likely to cross paths with people who

(02:10):
become familiar. You can use your third space for recreation
like reading, and if you work remotely, you can also
work from your third space, sometimes instead of from your home.
Even if you have to overcome someonnersia to get there,
you may feel better with a change of scenery. Another
simple way to expand your world is to join an

(02:32):
activity based group. Something like a choir, a book club,
young friends of the art museum, a tennis team, or
so forth will give you a recurring commitment to get
you out of the house and introduce you to a
new circle of people. If your schedule and budget allow it,
you could consider a weekend trip. There's a lot you

(02:54):
could do in forty eight hours or even thirty six.
You could visit a friend, go see an art exhibit
in another city, or simply explore a new place you
have been curious about. Just a little time away can
change your perspective. If you can't go for a weekend,
go somewhere for a day. There are no doubt many

(03:15):
adventures to be had within an hour or two radius
of your house. Personally, I love to broaden my horizons
by taking in culture. You can read great literature, go
to the theater, go to a museum, see a musical performance.
Seeing something new will make your world feel bigger. You
can even make your world feel bigger from the comfort

(03:36):
of your house. When you think of a friend or
relative or colleague, reach out. Even just a text will
make you feel more connected and less isolated. And who knows,
a quick text or email may lead to a zoom
or in person meet up. Even when retreating seems easier,

(03:58):
it is worthwhile to aim for a bigger life. The
world is vast and wonderful. You don't want to miss
out on what it has to offer. In the meantime,
this is Laura, Thanks for listening, and here's to making
the most of our time. Thanks for listening to Before Breakfast.

(04:29):
If you've got questions, ideas, or feedback, you can reach
me at Laura at Laura vandercam dot com. Before Breakfast
is a production of iHeartMedia. For more podcasts from iHeartMedia,
please visit the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you

(04:51):
listen to your favorite shows.