Reframing

What does that actually mean?

It’s a word that comes up a lot in coaching. Perhaps it's a bit of a buzzword.

When we reframe a thought, we give it a different spin. Negative to positive, or the other way round. Your mind can do that itself and you’ll encounter that hundreds of times a day. You might get out of bed and stub your toe. As pain shoots through your foot, your mind fills with triggered thoughts –most likely swearwords. Things might spiral from this point. “This day is going to suck. It’s raining as well and I’m late.” And so, it continues. However, it’s totally possible to reframe your thoughts and hence choose your mood and the energy you project.

OK, so it might be difficult reframing the pain of a stubbed toe. Pain doesn’t generally lead to good things unless you’re bringing a baby into the

world. But there in itself is a way of reframing things. How many expectant mothers push through the pain of childbirth by focusing on their imminent arrival?

To be able to reframe thoughts you need to be aware of them in the first place. It sounds stupid doesn’t it – who doesn’t hear their own thoughts? But actually, you need to

really listen.

Some of our clients aren’t aware their thoughts have become the enemy and are driving them down. For some people, thinking they aren’t good enough/smart enough/ confident enough has become a fact as opposed to a thought. Once they can step back and study that internal monologue, they realise that perception has been built from nothing more than their own internal voice. No one else holds that opinion. No facts exist to substantiate that belief. Change that voice, reframe that thought, and you change how you feel.

Reframing takes time and practise. Your internal voice is powerful and has been built up from a lifetime of experiences and reactions. But it’s possible to change the way you view things.

We assist many of our clients by helping them explore their thinking and perceptions. Sometimes, the internal voice is logical and might even be a helpful guide. But when that same voice is sabotaging life and limiting success then it’s time to act.