What does it mean to take a step back, anyway?
I use the phrase “take a step back” frequently on LifeUntucked in the context of something you should do. But why?
What do I really mean by taking a step back?
I’ve asked a lot of questions, I know. There are more…
I was reading through Michael Bungay Stanier’s book, Get Unstuck & Get Going… on the stuff that matters. In the section, What is Stuck? Stanier gives fourteen answers. One is, “STUCK, is when you know things aren’t working — and can’t step back to see why.”
So, it has to do with being able to see? That’s was I think. Too see what’s right there in front of you, but you’re too close. You can’t focus.
The cracks, crevices and blemishes are there. But you can’t see them.
You’ve heard the expression, “You’re too close”? Meaning, you’re too close to something to be objective. You’re personally invested, emotionally invested.
So, what can you do? How do you remove yourself? Maybe you can’t. Many times, thinking you can is being dishonest… with others and yourself.
But you can always take a step back.
A step back to get a more focused view. One from where you can actually see more. More ways over, around, or through. More ways to engage. More solutions. More clarity?
That all sounds good, right?
I started writing this post on Sunday. It’s now Monday and I’m coming back to it to take a fresh look. It felt nearly finished yesterday… not so much today.
Guess I need to step up and take another swing…
But, where does the expression, take a step, back even come from?
I stepped back to take a look… using Google, of course. (What else?)
Every time I think I know what an expression really means or where it originated, I’m almost always surprised. Surprised… because I was sure I knew something that I actually didn’t.
Note to self: You don’t know as much as you think you do. Remember that, self.
Honestly, I was hoping for more. You know, some really cool story about how four-hundred years ago, some beautiful princess took a step back, barely missing a speeding train, but her parent-selected fiancé wasn’t so lucky, and she went on to marry the pauper blacksmith of her dreams. But, not before founding a chain of internet coffee shops.
Here’s what I found…
From idioms.thefreedictionary.com
to move away from someone or something (profound!); to move back so as to provide space around someone or something. “Please step back from the injured woman. Give her some air. Step back and give her some air.”
To withdraw from something, especially to consider it from a wider perspective: “Let’s step back from the project for a moment and admire all that we have accomplished. Rather than arguing about every detail, they should step back and determine what is really important.”
Merriam-Webster says…
To stop doing something or being actively involved in something for a time so in order to think about it and make decisions in a calm and reasonable way. You need to step back and give yourself some time to work through this.
A user named fycorsia on forum.wordreference.com had an interesting thought—
There is a French phrase that I heard one time that is translated to something like, “Take a step back so you can take a big jump forward” in English.
Make sense? Not so much?
Still a good metaphor, though?
If you’ve made it this far, and this time I’d be surprised if you did… take a step back from your screen, put your device down, do whatever it takes to give yourself a bit more distance…
You should begin to see things more clearly now.
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