Exploring the Metaview

When people are in the thick of something, whether emotionally tangled, overwhelmed, or hyper-focused, it can be difficult for them to see what is really going on. The view becomes narrow. Everything feels personal, urgent, and close.

The metaview is a shift in perspective. It offers a wide-angle lens. Instead of being inside the story, the person begins to see the story. They can step back from the immediate details and take in the larger patterns, underlying dynamics, and long-term implications. They can see themselves with more clarity and compassion.

The metaview can take different forms:

• A sense of altitude: “If you were observing yourself from above, what would you notice?”

• A shift in time: “How will this situation look five years from now?”

• A relational perspective: “What might your future self want to say to you right now?”

The metaview helps people gain awareness. And awareness creates choice. 

Coaching application. In your next session, notice when your client is caught in the details or stuck. Offer a question that invites them to zoom out and notice the effect. 

Life application. Pick a situation in your life that feels intense, frustrating, or confusing. Take a moment, close your eyes, and imagine rising above it. What do you notice from this new perspective?

Relevant Upbuild content: [Podcast] The Art of the Meta-Conversation (Apple / Spotify)