How To Create Your Own Reality
71
Reframing
Imagine with me for a moment you're visiting a zoo and you hear a bear growl. What does the sound of the growl mean to you? In this context, the sound of a bear growling probably doesn't mean much to you. You feel safe; you know the bear is in an enclosed pit and can't reach you. Now imagine with me that you're on a camping trip and its dark, and you hear a bear growling. What does a growling bear mean to you now? In this context, it has completely different meaning, doesn't it? You wouldn't feel as safe as when you were at the zoo would you? You probably would be wondering if the bear is mad because you've just invaded her territory and she's trying to protect her cubs- or hoping that the bear already had dinner.
In both cases, it's the same growl, but the meaning of the experience depends on the frame we give it. As soon as you change the frame (the context), the meaning instantly changes.
One of the most impactful strategies for personal empowerment is to place frames on experiences that are uplifting. This powerful strategy is called reframing.
Our greatest challenges can become our greatest opportunities if we simply step back and refocus with a new perception.
Remember, nothing in this world really has any meaning, except the meaning we give it.
Two distinct types of reframes are: context reframing and content reframing.
Context reframing is taking a seemingly bad experience and transforming it into an incredible advantage with a new context.
There are many fables that demonstrate to us the power of context reframing. Remember Rudolph the red nosed reindeer? They used to laugh and call him names, until one foggy night Santa realized what a great advantage it could be to have him guide his sleigh that night.
Context reframing is also an effective tool in business. A mismatching partner who seems to always focus on why things won't work could be a great asset in a new context when you want someone to find any potential holes in a plan.
Many great inventions have come into fruition as a result of reframing - do you know how Velcro was invented? It was invented by a Swiss engineer who was walking through the woods one day and noticed how those burdocks stuck to his pant legs. Instead of just viewing this like a nuisance like the rest of us, he reframed his experience. He saw the great potential for what we now call Velcro and has become a world wide phenomenon.
Another type of reframe involves altering what you see or hear with an experience. Let's say someone just blew up at you. What do you do? Why not shrink them down to the size of a French fry or picture him becoming younger and younger until he is only a baby, which he once was? Wouldn't it be a lot tougher to be mad at someone if they were only a baby? Maybe you could picture this person talking baby talk. Maybe have the baby apologize to you or decide it's only a baby, so why even bother with an apology?
When you really think about it, you don't have to be at the mercy of your emotions. You can take charge. You can re-label what things mean to you. Instead of letting your brain run you, can run your brain. Reframing is a powerful strategy for transforming any experience into an empowering experience.
Take a few seconds and reframe these experiences:
1. I just lost my job.
2. It seems every time I ask someone out I get rejected.
3. I can't ever seem to put my life together.
4. I feel like I'm in a rut.
Here's how you could reframe:
1 A. Now that you lost your job, you will have even greater motivation to begin that business you always wanted to.
2 A. If many of the people I ask out don't seem to be interested, then I need to be more selective - then I'll find that special person.
3 A. I'm increasingly more aware that it's time for me to make some positive changes in my life.
4 A. When I finally do turn things around and become successful, I'll appreciate it a lot more because of how far I've gone.
Another incredible tool you should have in your arsenal is…
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Comments
Wow! I am so happy that i stumbled upon your hubs. You have amazing insight that has proven very helpful in current situations that i am experiencing. These are all things i know and have once studied and usually apply, however for some reason or other... reading your hub has helped remind me to step back and 'reframe' my current challenges! Many Thanks!
Thanks for stopping by Jodi. Yes it is true that what we perceive as road blocks is often opportunity in disguise. If you feel comfortable please share something you thought was a roadblock but placed you in a better outcome.
Hi delosangeles,
Sometimes all we need is a little reminder to step back and 'reframe' our current challenges. Writing this Hub has also reminded me to reframe. Is there anything you would like to share about a reframing experience?
I am a big fan of looking at the negative through rose-colored lenses. I like the term "reframing." Sometimes in life, one door must close so that another can open.
Funny you mentioned the bear. On a camping trip with my husband in the Smokey Mountains one year at the beginning of our relationship, we were standing at the back of the tent. He was talking to me while I was washing the dishes. We both heard a growl and a kind of galloping noise. We ran to my car, where we stayed until the middle of the night. The keys were in the tent. The cooler full of food was in the back seat. The windows were foggy, but it was dark anyway, so we sat in fear, scared to get out even to use the bathroom. We were both terrified that the bear would overturn the little car or just plain tear the door off to get to the food. Finally, I gained the courage to go to the tent and get the keys. He stayed in the car. He was too scared to get out.
If we spend our lives too scared that the bear will eat us, we will never get out of the car. And if we don't have the courage to go and get the keys out of the tent, we can't drive anywhere. Fear is paralyzing.
Hey Advisor,
Great story!
"If we spend our lives too scared that the bear will eat us, we will never get out of the car. And if we don't have the courage to go and get the keys out of the tent, we can't drive anywhere. Fear is paralyzing."
Please share any other stories you have!
The mind can choose which side it wants to focus on. The coin always has two side and it depends which side we like to look at. Same as crisis always backed up by opportunity. It's really the way we see thing that form our personal reality.
Thanks for you lesson for today.
Hey metaphysican,
Thanks for stopping by! I'm glad you enjoyed the Hub. Is there anything else you would like to share?
I love the bear analogy! That is exactly right! Nothing has meaning except the meaning we assign it. This has never been more evident to me until meeting someone who grew up in a totally different culture than I did. The meaning they assign things is so different than myself. It's been a great eye-opener. It is in our best interest to periodically re-evaluate our 'belief' system and let go of anything that no longer serves us well. Things we were taught as a kid are no longer in our best interest to hold on to. Great hub!
LOL while I definitely agree to the hub idea, that bear thing seems to be a bit off - reframing a bear in the wild into a bear in the Zoo can get you in real trouble :)
I was out running in the wilderness when a bear right in front of me. I got so scared I hid in a porta potty next to the ranger's station, and then flagged a sheriff to give me a ride home. Some people have been attacked by bears up in the mountains, so I decided to rethink running in the middle of nowhere after that.
I love your examples in this hub... reframing is also something I've heard of... anything that will let me to run my emotions rather then my emotions running my life right now is more then welcome! Lol! Thanks for the inspiring hub.
sup.I will add reframing to my arsenal of "life bombs" I call'em.I've been studying the laws of the universe for about two years now.nice hub,so nice that I am your fan now.peace.
I like your attitude. Thanks for becoming my fan. I think we're on the same page.
Check it out:
the way you write or present your hubs is really different from others and that is one of the reason why i became a fan of yours.
cool hub.
What an awesome hub on reframing, as an EFT practitioner this is a huge part of the process. Learning to reframe is quite a process. i appreciate the way you have presented this information making it easier to process and apply.
hi in my previous comment i forgot to appreciate your bear story. nice way of telling that. different people think differently in different situations. i like the way you presented it. to say in all this is a wonderful hub.
Jodi Hoeksel says:
6 months ago
Visioning is a great tool for your arsenal! Being in the now, yet allowing yourself to see/feel through the present moment and create a clear vision of how you would like to see things unfold. Yet, do not get caught up on particular objects. Keeping yourself open to what your framing with present.
I really like your insight! There was a time in my life that I would get caught up if things I was seeing did not turn out the way I had seen. I believe that there is opportunity in all that arrives, we just need to do as you have stated... re-frame and see the vast choices we have. For me, looking back , the perceived "road-blocks" actually have placed me in better outcomes than my original intents. I do not get hung up on particular objects any longer. Instead, follow my passion within and see what arrives that is in align with my inner reflections.
Great info.