How Reframing Helps You to Overcome Problems
It’s only a matter of perspective
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Content:
- Feeling Stuck?
- What is Reframing?
- Benefits of Reframing
- How to Reframe
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1. Feeling Stuck?
The feeling of being in front of a wall, not being able to overcome an obstacle or a problem is not new.
Some, full of patience and determination, manage to resolve and move forward. Others (it happened to me too) get stuck and can't see beyond.
So? What to do? Let's see it together.
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2. What is Reframing?
Reframing is seeing the current situation from a different perspective, which can be tremendously helpful in solving problems, making decision and learning.
When people get stuck in a recurring issue, for example in a complex situation or in solving a complex problem, it is rarely because they are missing a certain step-by-step procedure to fix things. Instead, it is often because they are stuck in how they see situation.
For instance you have an elevator that runs slow. The problem usually framed sounds like:
“The elevator is too slow”.
The standard problem solving path offers the following solutions:
- Make the elevator faster
- Install a new one
- Upgrade the motor
- Work on the control software
All good solutions but…reframing is surprisingly alternative.
First of all if we ‘reframe’ the problem instead of “The elevator is too slow”, we have:
“The wait is annoying”.
Working on this we can offer solutions as:
- Make the wait feel shorter
- Put up mirrors
- Play music
- Install interactive video displays
- Offer good wifi and mobile connection
Such a redefinition activates a different way of being. And alternative solutions may be more applicable (or even more cost effective) than the standard ones.
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3. Benefits of Reframing
Reframing can also be seen as redefining a problem as a challenge.
By doing this you shift from passive to active voice. From negative feelings to positive feelings. Also from victimisation viewpoint to empowerment.
One of the important things to remember is that you are not setting out to change the content of the event or experience but your feelings towards it.
Positive reframing doesn’t change the situation you’re facing or the people you’re dealing with. It changes your responses to those realities, enabling you to deal with them in productive and positive ways.
By taking a more flexible and open-minded approach, positive reframing can help you do the following:
- Reduce stress.
- Be more resilient.
- Improve relationships.
- See and act on new opportunities.
- Be more thoughtful and open-minded.
- Find greater happiness in life.
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4. How to Reframe
It’s only a matter of perspective!
First: frame the problem.
What problem are we trying to solve here?
It’s important to change the frame not explore deeper within the frame! We should ask instead: …is this the right problem to solve?
Examine the bright spots and ask the right questions.
- Who else deals with this kind of problems?
- Where is the problem not?
- Have you already solved the problem once before?
- Are there parts of the situation that are positive?
Rethink the goal.
- Are we pursuing the right goal?
- Is there a better goal to pursue?
- Are there other ways of achieving the goal?
Let me know if reframing works for you.