How to Instantly Reframe a Negative Experience with This Easy Trick

Our brains are pretty cool.

They don't know the difference between what is real and what is imagined.

This is a good thing when you're using your brain to visualize yourself in that next elevated role or career pivot (imagination + vividness = reality).

Not so much when you're reliving that terrible meeting or anticipating dealing with that difficult boss in the coming week.

The good news is our brains are also flexible, not fixed.

?We can develop new neural pathways instead of automatically going down paths that lead to anxiety in advance when we anticipate a difficult circumstance or feeling stressed out over situations after they've happened.

Using visualization to your advantage, you can develop new neural pathways by engaging in activities that force the brain to make new connections.?

Here's an example from my own career.?

I reported to a narcissistic, toxic CEO. Every time I met with him, my every move was questioned and he often publicly undermined my credibility.?

I can remember feeling so trapped. I had a sinking feeling every time I had to encounter him and until I learned how to create a new neuro pathway, even good memories of that work place would be marred by the anxiety I felt in that toxic environment.?

So, I created a new neural pathway to deal with this past anxiety.?

First I pictured the situation like it felt - me powerless and buried in quick sand. Then, instead of being trapped, I imagine myself having something to grab onto. I pull myself out. I walk out under my own power, feeling strong and capable.?

I reimagined the situation as I would have liked it to be - a powerful me, walking out feeling in control and free.?

You can do the same with your own stressful situation. Use visualization to rewrite your response to any situation.

It doesn't matter if your anxiety is associated with something the way back past, like mine, if it happened last week or it's something you anticipate encountering in the coming week.

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It takes some time, but eventually you'll rewire your response to any negative situation so it will no longer plague you. If it does resurface, you can play the new story and reinforce the new neuro pathway

You can hack into the connections and pathways that exist in your brain and change them. You can what to focus on at any given moment.

It's your superpower!

Instead of feeling the negative, switch it to a positive.

You can have control over the situation, even if it is only in your imagination.?

Your thoughts, feelings and neural pathways are in your power to change.

And the more you practice changing the story of your experiences, the easier it becomes. You can even do it in 30 seconds.

Always for you,

Elissa

P.S. Do you feel plagued by the Sunday Scaries? Sign up for my newsletter and get tips like this every Sunday so you can have a better week with tools to help you survive and thrive at your workplace.

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