The phrase “You can’t see the forest for the trees” means that by focusing exclusively on detail it becomes difficult to discern the overall pattern.
Interestingly, the first documented, written usage of some form of the expression seems to have been in a book by Frederick Engels on the theme of socialism.
He used this phrase to illustrate how an intense focus on individual concepts can cause people to forget their connections to a larger whole.
DANCE WITH IT! EXPERIENTIAL APPS
An opportunity to experiment with some fun ideas...
Do you get lost in the forest?
While we need the Big Picture for orientation in our personal interactions it can also be overwhelming. If we over focus on the forest we can miss the nuances and the beauty of detail.
Do you over focus on the trees?
While the trees allow us to pay attention to details and nuances and count our accomplishments, when we see only the trees we can easily get stuck in minutia and have problems finishing tasks and solving problems.
Getting stuck on either side of this equation can lead to a distortion in reaching solutions.
The next time you feel stuck - a job situation, trying to get a task done, having an argument …
Try playing a game of “Path Finder” to train yourself to identify forest and trees:
You can do this on your own or have some fun with a partner.
The way to play:
First time ask yourself: “Is this situation the whole forest or a tree?”
Now short-cut this process by labeling – in your mind or out loud – Forest/Tree as you go through the day.
Like magic, as you identify where you are stuck, you will automatically find yourself making shifts in how you deal with situations.
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