In this post, we’ll unpack all you need to know about Reframing, defining exactly what it is, what it is not, the power of it, how to leverage it and more.
What Is Reframing?
Reframing is a technique that involves identifying seemingly negative experiences and transforming them into positive experiences by shifting our perspective and attaching an empowering meaning.
For example, “problems” which have a daunting feel to them can be reframed into “opportunities” to grow which creates a more empowering feeling.
What It Is Not
Reframing is not about turning a blind eye to negative experiences. It is about becoming aware of what could be positive about an experience.
“Every adversity, every failure, every heartache carries with it the seed of an equal or greater benefit.” — Napoleon Hill
The Power Of Reframing
Nothing in life has any meaning, except the meaning we give it. The meaning we give something determines how we feel. How we feel determines what we do. What we do determines our destiny.
Therefore, how we interpret our experiences — how we frame them — determines our emotional state and ultimately how we perceive, experience and interact with the world around us.
In the words of Wayne Dyer: “When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.”
The 2 Types Of Reframing
In Content Reframing, the context stays the same but the content changes. For example, “Job interviews always make me nervous” could be reframed to “Because I care about coming across well.” Ask yourself: “What positive meaning can I give this experience?”
In Context Reframing, the content stays the same but the context changes. For example, “My daughter is too stubborn” could be reframed to “At least she won’t be easily encouraged into a stranger’s car.” Ask yourself: “In what context could this experience be a positive?”
How To Leverage Reframing
The key to leveraging the concept of reframing is to create beliefs that empower us and align with our goals and the life we desire.
Perspective is everything. We can transmute any experience into something that moves us towards our goals instead of away from. Anger to action. Anxiety to excitement. Thus, when we shift our perspective, we shift our emotional state and thus how we perceive, experience and interact with the world around us.
Summary
Reframing is a method for transforming seemingly negative experiences into positive experiences. There are two types: Content Reframing where the meaning stays the same but the context changes and Context Reframing where the context stays the same but the meaning changes.
The key to leveraging Reframing is to define our experiences in a way that empowers us and in a way that aligns with our goals and the life we desire. When we shift how we view things, we shift our emotional state and thus how we perceive, experience and interact with the world around us.
