A Few Degrees Can Make a Huge Difference

By Christine Murray

A few degrees can make a huge difference. Recently, on a drive winding through the mountainous terrain from my hometown of Pittsburgh to my current home in North Carolina, I observed firsthand the transformative power of small shifts.

The temperature hovered just above the freezing mark, and the cloudy day alternated between light and heavy rain and snow. As we made our way through the mountains, I couldn't help but draw parallels between the changing landscapes outside my window and the nuanced journey of recovering from past abuse.

Please forgive the photo quality, as my teenage son took both photos on his phone while I was driving. But just check out the contrast in the scenery we had along the drive depending on even the slightest changes of elevation:

While we were chugging along at the lower elevations in the mountains, the scenery was muddy, dingy, and gloomy.

While climbing higher on the upward slopes, there were some moments where we could look at the current view around us (again, muddy and gloomy), but then if we looked up higher in the mountains, we could see snow-covered treetops above that current view.

As we got to the highest elevations, it was truly a beautiful winter wonderland. I’m talking the kind of fresh-fallen snow that sticks to even the tiniest tree branches. It was breathtaking.

Along this long drive, there are often many moments when there is little to do but be quiet with my thoughts. In those moments of reflection, it occurred to me how much of a significant difference even just a few degrees of elevation and temperature (changing within just a minute or two along our drive) could make.

It was mind-blowing to me how quickly the view and perspective could change, especially when we’re putting in effort (and miles) along a long journey. This is not just true for long car rides, but also in long-term journeys we take in our lives, such as healing from past trauma or pursuing a major life goal.

When I think back on my own journey of healing from a past abusive relationship, I can think of long stretches of time where I knew I was putting in the effort, but I wasn’t seeing much actual change in my life. Things were still hard and kind of ugly to look at, even if I could feel myself changing and making progress.

But then, sometimes after long stretches of what felt like minimal progress, all of a sudden, I would notice some significant change and that the view of my healing journey had changed.

The Mirriam-Webster Dictionary defines a tipping point as “the critical point in a situation, process, or system beyond which a significant and often unstoppable effect or change takes place.” During our long car ride, the tipping point between gloomy, muddy surroundings and a beautiful winter view was just a degree to two of a difference.

Along the journey of healing from past abuse, tipping points can come in many forms and may look different for every survivor. They might include finally building up a set of coping skills to help you navigate a potentially triggering situation, saving up an amount of money that helps you to feel financially secure, or making a new friendship that helps you to feel supported, encouraged, and validated.  

I believe it’s so important to take a moment to let those moments of progress sink in. Along our drive, I did this by trying to appreciate the beautiful scenery around me, and in truth, I knew it wouldn’t last too long as we got further down the mountains.

In the journey of healing from past abuse, it’s vital to savor and celebrate each beautiful moment of progress. Even though these glimpses into the beauty of healing may be fleeting, they represent vital milestones along the way—moments that are not only valuable but also worthy of awe.

As I reflect on the transformative power of just a few small degrees of change during our mountainous drive, I invite you to consider the small changes you are making along your own healing journey. Embrace and celebrate these moments whenever they arise, for they have the potential to bring about powerful shifts in your perspective.