So much of my initial motivation for becoming a therapist can be traced back to a surprising source: the 1991 comedy classic, What About Bob?. (Note: this blog WILL contain spoilers, but I’d argue you can’t really spoil a movie that came out over 30 years ago.)
In this movie, the exceedingly neurotic yet lovable client, Bob Wiley, finally finds a psychiatrist he believes will be helpful, only to discover that the doctor is leaving the next day on an extended vacation. Bob is understandably distraught—he thought their life-changing work would begin immediately. In response to Bob’s distress, Dr. Marvin pulls out a prescription pad and writes some unexpected instructions: Take a vacation from your problems.
This advice is enough to get Bob “baby-stepping” out of the office, while Dr. Marvin heads off to his family’s vacation home on Lake Winnipesaukee.
What Does It Mean to “Take a Vacation From Your Problems”?
While Bob’s situation is played for laughs, the idea of taking a break from our problems is surprisingly wise. We may not be able to leave our troubles behind entirely, but we can shift how we see them—and sometimes that shift makes all the difference.
In Stephen Covey’s The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, he captures this beautifully:
“To change ourselves effectively, we first had to change our perceptions.”
The Power of Perspective
Covey doesn’t stop at perception. He points to Viktor Frankl—a psychiatrist and Holocaust survivor—who discovered what he called “the last of the human freedoms” even in a concentration camp: the freedom to choose his response.
Covey explains that between stimulus and response lies our greatest power—the power to choose. That choice is rooted in our uniquely human capacities: self-awareness, imagination, conscience, and will. Particularly, imagination and conscience give us the ability to see beyond our current pain or constraints—envisioning a different path, guided by our values rather than our impulses.
Frankl’s story is a sobering reminder that perspective isn’t a luxury—it’s an act of endurance and creativity. Even in the harshest circumstances, the ability to imagine hope, align with conscience, and choose a different response can expand our sense of freedom.
Key takeaway: Perspective doesn’t remove problems, but it loosens their grip on us.
How Can Perspective Help in Hard Seasons?
When we step back—even just a little—we give ourselves breathing room. Suddenly, what felt impossible can start to look manageable. What felt urgent may not be as critical as we thought. And what felt heavy can become just a little lighter.
In the midst of the heaviness and weariness of a difficult season, we often forget that we have this powerful tool at our disposal. When we choose what we focus on, we regain power over our circumstances. When we focus on what’s in our control about a situation, it starts to feel like we have some say-so in our own lives again. And when we focus on our response to what’s happening around us, we begin to change the environment—both internally and externally.
Scripture echoes this truth. In 2 Timothy 1:7, we’re reminded: “For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.” That means we can use the sound mind and self-control God has given us to step back, take a breath, and give our hearts, minds, and souls a break from constant heaviness.
Key takeaway: Choosing perspective is a spiritual and practical act of reclaiming power.
Practical Ways to “Take a Vacation From Your Problems”
Taking a vacation from your problems doesn’t have to mean ignoring them or running away. Instead, it might look like:
- Changing your environment. A short walk outside or even moving to a different room can reset your mindset. Even going to dinner with your spouse when you’re in a tough season, or stepping away from the hospital to grab coffee with a friend. Whatever you’re facing will still be there when you get back, but don’t discount the power of a short reprieve! (Or perhaps you might finally take that vacation to Lake Winnipesaukee and set out to find, DOCTOR! LEO! MARVIN!”)
- Borrowing another lens. Talking with a trusted friend, mentor, or therapist can offer a fresh angle you hadn’t considered. (We do not, however, encourage you to show up to your psychiatrist’s lake house, stay for dinner, and befriend THE FAM!)
- Zooming out. Asking yourself, “Will this matter a year from now?” can shrink a problem’s power in the present. Sometimes, the answer is “yes.” And those are always some markedly “before and after” life-altering situations. But sometimes the answer is “no” and that single question can right-size whatever you’re facing. (Come to think of it, this is the heart of “death therapy,” the totally made-up, 0 out of 10 therapy model that Dr. Marvin creates when he’s at his literal wits’ end!)
- Resting your mind. Giving yourself permission to laugh, rest, or do something enjoyable isn’t avoidance—it’s medicine. This is a powerful move because you’re reminding yourself that your present hardship isn’t the only true thing about you! (Or maybe, like Bob, you’d like to try a new hobby? Might I suggest sailing? “I’m sailing! I sail! I’m a sailor!”)
- Practicing imagination. Borrowing from Frankl, picture yourself beyond this season. What wisdom will you carry with you? What kind of person will you be because of what you’ve endured? What lessons from this moment will you pass along to others in the future? (Bob’s “sage” advice for overcoming neuroses includes his tried and true wisdom, “if you fake it, you don’t have it!” Is it sound therapeutic advice? No! But it is a creative use of imagination, and it moved him beyond his fear-based concern.)
Reflection question: What small shift in perspective could you choose today that might lighten your load?
Final Thoughts
Just like Bob’s “baby steps,” these small shifts in perspective don’t solve everything at once. But they loosen the grip our problems have on us, and that little bit of distance can make all the difference.
Taking a vacation from your problems doesn’t mean pretending they don’t exist—it means giving yourself a chance to breathe, reset, and see things differently. Bob may have taken Dr. Marvin’s words a little too literally, but the wisdom still holds: sometimes the best way forward is to take a step back. And in that space, even the smallest steps can lead to real change.
Thank you for sharing your wisdom in supporting me to activate the Holy Bible to achieve a peaceful mind. Nothing in life makes sense without God. Sending so much love and adoration. I am truly grateful.