REFRAMING
We take a frame of reference which is a mental structure we have created something which is real to us and transform its meaning by changing the context, boundaries or the constraints on say an event, behaviour or an experience. Consider the lens you are looking through or the thoughts that are creating a different interpretation of the same object may be in a different setting.
This is reframing because by using different thoughts the same “thing” can mean something different. For example, some people believe cows are methane producers and contribute to global warming, others see them as vital to their existence as and source of food, shelter and clothing and some want to protect them as sacred creatures.
The meaning of any event depends upon the ‘frame’ or context in which we perceive it. A headache at work is irritation and may force you to take a pill. A headache when you get home from is a message that you need to get some rest. When we change the context our response and behaviour also change. A ‘frame’ tells us how to interpret what is going on. We reframe when we think of a different context in which a person would want to respond differently.
If we take the view that every experience could be valuable in some context, we can reframe it so that the experience is useful. For example, having your car broken into in front of you could be a frightening experience, unless it’s because you have locked your keys inside. Being stubborn and inflexible will not go down well with your boss, but it may be useful when you have been short-changed in a shop.
To look at reframing another way, if we cannot change or prevent something from happening, we can change the way we respond to it. e can then feel much better about what used to be a problem. Reframing the way we see an action can get us a better result if we focus on the desired outcome, not the problem. This is often referred to as adopting a ‘Solution Focus‘. The diagram below shows how starting with the desired outcome allows you to explore how seeing things differently can improve the result.
The diagram below shows how starting with the desired outcome allows you to explore how seeing things differently can improve the result. Even using your imagination to envisage what you would expect to see, hear and engage in your ideal life movie.
We can also measure how we have improved over time and see how actions to improve could be done quicker, or see the consequences of not making a change. But reframing across different domains of knowledge is more difficult. For example, to see training in the same way that we look after plants can help us see the value of continuous learning and feedback to maintain optimum performance. When we suss how a game is played it changes our actions and we cannot go back. The reframe has become a new frame of reference for future assessments.
